Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy 2022 - OLD

The Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy is beginning its sixth year and is now accepting applications for 2022. The program—designed specifically for middle school teachers (grades 5-8) was established to help enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, engineering and technology, while increasing teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce. The Academy, which is directed by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), will support 25 teachers of science, engineering, and/or technology located in public school districts in select Northrop Grumman communities across the United States. The teachers will be immersed throughout the year in a host of blended professional learning opportunities in science, technology, and engineering and as a teacher leader they will share their learning across their school and district. 

Launched in 2015, the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy, co-founded by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, was created to elevate STEM education in middle school grades (5–8) within school districts located in Northrop Grumman communities. The Academy provides effective, blended professional learning experiences to middle level teachers so that they can better foster their students’ interest in engineering, strengthen workforce skills, and expose students to STEM careers. NSTA and the Northrop Grumman Foundation believe that a passion for engineering can be ignited among teachers and students by engaging teachers in real-world engineering and technology, increasing their awareness of STEM career opportunities, and providing teachers aligned blended professional learning experiences focused on effective practices they can implement in their classrooms. 

Northrop Grumman scientists, engineers and technologists are integral to the design and implementation of the program by providing meaningful experiences and real world perspectives that impact teacher designed lessons and projects. These experiences model workforce skills and offer local expertise and support for the respective school districts in participating Northrop Grumman communities, as a scientist/engineer/technologist partnership with teachers can be highly beneficial to the professional learning of STEM educators. (National Academies of Science, 1996; Quality Evaluation Design for, Industry Initiatives for Science & Math Education 2012; American Society for Engineering Education, 2016; Iowa STEM Evaluation Report: Iowa STEM Teacher Externships, 2016). 

The selected "Teacher Fellows" will:

• Attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Chicago, Illinois, and pre-conference workshops, July 18-24, 22 (travel day on July 17);
   
• Participate in an immersive, 25-30-hour externship at their local Northrop Grumman facility, where they will be partnered with an engineer/technologist to observe and experience critical workforce skills in action, July 11-15 and/or 25-29, 2022;
   
• Engage throughout the year-long program in online professional learning via a comprehensive NSTA membership package which will include a variety of web-based professional learning activities, including a specially designated online learning community;
   
• Develop classroom applications that integrate an authentic and "real-world" application and new pedagogy strategies based on their program experiences; and 
   
• Assist their district administration in building capacity by leading discussions in their district specific NSTA online community forum to utilize NSTA tools/resources to share their learning with colleagues.

These experiences will be continually integrated and followed-up with blended online learning experiences, providing the Teacher Fellows with access to NSTA's extensive online collection of education resources, web seminars, and discussions. This year the 2021 Teacher Fellows will have the opportunity to give back to their profession by helping to build awareness and capacity both within their district and selected alumni will present sessions at the 2022 NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Chicago.

For additional program information or questions, please contact, Wendy Binder, Program Director, at wbinder@nsta.org.