NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, cofounded by the Amgen Foundation, is a professional development initiative created to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence, and improve teacher content knowledge.
According to a 2003 study by Richard Ingersoll, nearly 50% of beginning teachers leave their jobs in the first five years. The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy endeavors to use mentoring and other professional development resources to support science teachers during the often challenging, initial teaching years and to help them stay in the profession.
As an NSTA Fellow, you will receive:
- Comprehensive NSTA membership and its benefits;
- An opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars
- Unlimited use of resources including vetted web links for lesson plans, links to state and national standards, professional organizations, safety tips and more;
- An opportunity to participate in e-Mentoring developed by NSTA, the New Teacher Center, and Montana State University that includes:
- e-Mentoring with an experienced teacher in the same science discipline and grade level;
- Facilitated online curriculum that focuses on science content and applicable classroom pedagogy;
- Access to a nationwide, online network of science educators and scientists that facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and resources;
- Accommodations, coverage of airfare, food, and registration fees to attend the NSTA national conference;
- An opportunity to participate in specialized conference pathways and to participate in a Research Dissemination Conference or a Professional Development Institute.
Eligibility
New Science Teacher Academy Fellows must be:
- Located throughout the country*
- Entering their second or third year of teaching
- Working a schedule with 51% of their classes in middle or high school science.
Former Academy Fellows are not eligible.
For the application to the 2008–2009 New Science Teacher Academy, click here.
NSTA New Science Teacher Academy Underwriters
*Applicants must be residents of one of the 50 states or four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Selected applicants will represent a geographic distribution of the U.S.
states and four U.S. jurisdictions.
For more information, please contact the Project Director of NSTA New Science Teacher Academy at NSTAcademy@nsta.org or (703) 312-9226.