Professional Development

NSTA, Northrop Grumman Open Applications for Teachers Academy

• By Leila Meyer
• 10/10/16

The Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy is now accepting applications to its second annual professional development program for middle school science, engineering and technology teachers.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) developed the teachers academy with the goal of enhancing "teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, engineering and technology, while increasing teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce," according to a news release.

The program will accept 25 teachers from school districts located in select Northrop Grumman communities. Applicants must have at least two years of experience teaching physical science, engineering or technology to middle school students (grades 5 to 8), and they must demonstrate a "strong desire to advance engineering and technology education by applying real-world applications in the classroom."

Teachers accepted to the program will receive:

• Membership with full benefits in the NSTA;
• Opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional learning activities;
• Paid travel, accommodation, meal and registration costs for the 2017 National Conference on Science Education in Los Angeles, CA from March 28 to April 1, 2017;
• A five-day summer workshop on pedagogical strategies for effective integration of authentic engineering design practices in their classroom;
• An 80-hour immersive externship at a local Northrop Grumman facility where they will be partnered with an engineer or technologist to observe and experience critical STEM content and skills in action;
• Opportunity to develop lesson plans and units that integrate an authentic and "real-world" application linked to the externship experiences; and
• Opportunity to develop tools and resources for engineering and technology instruction to share with colleagues within their schools and districts.

The deadline for applications is Nov. 11, 2016. Further information and an online application form can be found on the National Science Teachers Association's site.