Forty-Nine
Texas Science Teachers Selected For Fellowship Program in Prestigious NSTA New
Science Teacher Academy
AUSTIN, Texas — January
16, 2014 — The National Science Teachers
Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world
promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all, in
collaboration with The Dow Chemical Company; Lockheed Martin; the American Honda Foundation; and the Bayer USA
Foundation, today announced that 49 out of the 200 science teachers chosen
as Fellows in the 2013-2014 NSTA New
Science Teacher Academy are from Texas. Selected from more than a thousand
applications nationwide, the Fellows (listed below) will participate in a host
of science-related activities and professional learning opportunities designed
to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and
classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge.
Dow-NSTA Fellows
- Stacey Arantes, Judson High School, Converse, Texas
- Allison Bouwman, McNeil High School, Austin, Texas
- Diane Buxkemper, G.W. Carver Middle School, Waco, Texas
- Barbara (Jackie) Caldwell, The Ranch Academy, Tyler, Texas
- Ashley Carswell, Churchill High School, San Antonio, Texas
- Kathryn Catalano, South Garland High School, Garland, Texas
- Ruth Colyer, Juarez-Lincoln High School, Mission, Texas
- Candace Davis, Smith Middle School, Cypress, Texas
- Katherine Donovan, YES Prep East End, Houston, Texas
- Sarah Draper, Roosevelt Junior High School, Lubbock, Texas
- Alicia Edwards, Cullen Middle School, Houston, Texas
- Sara Elliott, Killeen High School, Killeen, Texas
- Samantha Everett, W.H. Adamson High School, Dallas, Texas
- Hector Galindo, Mercedes Early College Academy, Mercedes, Texas
- Allison Gaynor, YES Prep Southwest, Houston, Texas
- Angela Gedeller, YES Prep Southwest, Houston, Texas
- Rebecca Greco, Hempstead Middle School, Hempstead, Texas
- Sheena Guevara, Northbrook Middle School, Houston, Texas
- Marjorie Hernandez, Elsik High School, Houston, Texas
- Lara Holbert, Frenship High School, Wolfforth, Texas
- Josh Howard, Waller High School, Waller, Texas
- Janice Ison-Weikel, Sidney Lanier High School, San Antonio, Texas
- Jennifer Istre, Angleton Junior High School, Angleton, Texas
- Pamela Jones, Geneva School of Boerne, Boerne, Texas
- Joey Krivi, Bammel Middle School, Houston, Texas
- Amanda Lengnick-Hall, Austin Achieve Public School, Austin, Texas
- Dawn Lobbes, Liberty Christian School, Argyle, Texas
- Astrid Marcano, UT Tyler Innovation Academy, Tyler, Texas
- Melanie Mobley, Alternative Learning Center-East, Houston, Texas
- Evette Mumford, Benbrook Middle School, Benbrook, Texas
- Grant Nunneley, Stratford Senior High School, Houston, Texas
- Michelle Perry, Huntsville High School, Huntsville, Texas
- Patrick Reid, Waxahachie High School, Waxahachie, Texas
- Angel Santa Cruz, Morehead Middle School, El Paso, Texas
- Tiffany Schmitz, YES Prep Gulfton, Houston, Texas
- Anders Schneider, YES Prep Southwest, Houston, Texas
- Monica Scott-Hawkins, Longview Global High STEM Academy, Longview, Texas
- James Sharp, Coronado High School, El Paso, Texas
- Jayme Sisk, Castleberry High School, Fort Worth, Texas
- Kelsey Slaughter, Frenship High School, Wolfforth, Texas
- Jennafer Smiullin, Bland High School, Farmersville, Texas
- Angela Snyder, Holliday High School, Holliday, Texas
- Kaleb Underwood, Spring Woods High School, Houston, Texas
- Janahy Velarde, El Dorado High School, El Paso, Texas
- Kelsey Voller, Elgin Middle School, Elgin, Texas
- Jessica Ward, Harker Heights High School, Harker Heights, Texas
- Danielle Wolf, Hogg Middle School, Houston, Texas
- Autumn Wraight, Mineral Wells High School, Mineral Wells, Texas
- Yetzul Flores Werner, Taylor High School, Houston, Texas
“The National Science Teachers Association congratulates the
new science teachers who will join the Academy this year,” said Dr. David
Evans, executive director, NSTA. “The Academy Fellows are making a long-term
commitment to give their very best to their students – and to society, as they
inspire the scientists and citizens of tomorrow.”
“New science
teachers need and deserve our support as they go about the important work of
bringing science to life in our schools,” said Dow’s Rob Vallentine, global
director, STEM Education. “Dow believes teachers are the multiplier effect on
our young people, serving as an important conduit between the love of science
and the connection to a STEM career. We are excited to support the NSTA New
Science Teacher Academy and proud to be associated with this impressive group
of educators.”
The Fellows were selected on the basis of several criteria,
including showing evidence of a solid science background and displaying a
strong interest in growing as a professional science educator. Each Fellow will
receive a comprehensive NSTA membership package, online mentoring with trained
mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in
a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web
seminars. In addition, each Fellow will receive financial support to attend and
participate in NSTA’s 2014 National Conference on Science Education in Boston.
Four leading U.S.-based organizations, committed to
strengthening the quality of science education in the U.S., are supporting the
200 new science teachers selected as Fellows in the NSTA New Science Teacher
Academy. The Dow Chemical Company, the primary sponsor of the program, will
fund the participation of 159 science teachers as Dow-NSTA Fellows. Lockheed
Martin will sponsor 27 teachers as Lockheed Martin-NSTA Fellows. The American
Honda Foundation will support seven science teachers as Honda-NSTA Fellows and
the Bayer USA Foundation will sponsor seven science teachers from New Jersey as
Bayer-NSTA Fellows.
Launched during the spring of 2007, the NSTA New Science
Teacher Academy, co-founded with a grant from the Amgen Foundation, was designed
to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and
classroom excellence, and improve teacher content knowledge. Since its
inception the Academy has provided high-quality professional learning
opportunities to nearly 1000 science teachers nationwide.
For a list of the 2013-2014 Fellows or to learn more about
the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, please visit www.nsta.org/academy.
About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National
Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in
the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning
for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 55,000 science
teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and
industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines
the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential
to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the
principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most
challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy
generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's
diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced
materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of
technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160
countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy,
coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately $57
billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more
than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the
globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow
Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly
noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security
and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture,
integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and
services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.
About the American Honda Foundation
Established in 1984, the American Honda Foundation (AHF)
makes grants to non-profit organizations that benefit the people of the United
States in the areas of youth and scientific education, with a specific focus on
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to
the environment. AHF engages in grantmaking that reflects the basic tenets,
beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the
following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking,
scientific, humanistic and innovative. Since its inception, more than $31
million has been awarded to organizations serving approximately 115 million
people in every state in the U.S. For more information please visit http://www.foundation.honda.com.
About Bayer
Corporation, Bayer USA Foundation and Making Science Make Sense®
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in
the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an inventor
company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer’s products and services are designed to
benefit people and improve the quality of life. At the same time, the Group
aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer
is committed to the principles of sustainable development and acts as a
socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. In fiscal 2012, the Group
employed 110,500 people and had sales of €39.8 billion. In North America, Bayer
had 2012 net sales of €9,576 million ($12,257 million) and employed 15,300 at
year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.
The Bayer USA Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) entity
with a programmatic focus on education and workforce development, and
environment and sustainability. The Foundation supports organizations that
enhance quality of life, connect diverse groups, ensure preparedness for tomorrow’s
leaders, and improve communities in which Bayer employees live and work. The
Bayer USA Foundation is one of three Bayer foundations worldwide, including the
Bayer Science & Education Foundation and the Bayer Cares Foundation. To
learn more, go to www.bayerus.com/foundation.
Making Science Make Sense®
(MSMS) is Bayer’s company-wide initiative that advances
science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science education, employee
volunteerism and a public education campaign. Currently, 12 Bayer sites around
the U.S. operate local MSMS programs, which together represent a national
volunteer corps of more than 1,000 employees. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com/msms.
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