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 Foundation, Amgen Foundation; Astellas Pharma US, Inc.; and the American Honda Foundation, announced that Erin Howe, a science teacher at South Webster High School in South Webster, was chosen from hundreds of applications nationwide to participate as an Amgen-NSTA Fellow in the 2011-12 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy.

The only teacher selected from Ohio, Howe will participate with 214 other science teachers from across the country in a year-long professional development program designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge.

“Now more than ever, we need to assist educators in developing their skills as teachers so that they can not only bolster student achievement, but feel confident and passionate about the vital work they do in helping to grow the pipeline of future science professionals,” said Dr. Francis Eberle, executive director, NSTA. “Each of these Fellows has expressed a strong desire to strengthen their knowledge and expand their professional growth so that they can better foster their students’ interest in science. We are extremely proud of this year’s group of Fellows and are grateful for their commitment to science education and to their students.”

Howe could not be reached for comment at South Webster High School.

The 2011-12 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 2012 National Conference on Science Education in Indianapolis

For this academic year, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, the primary sponsor of the program, will fund the participation of 156 science teachers as Dow-NSTA Fellows. The Amgen Foundation will support 39 science teachers as Amgen-NSTA Fellow and Astellas will support 13 science teachers primarily from the Chicago area as Astellas-NSTA Fellows. The Honda Foundation will support seven middle school science teachers as Honda-NSTA Fellows.

Launched during the spring 2007, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, co-founded by the Amgen Foundation, was established to help reduce the high attrition rate in the science teaching profession by providing professional development and mentoring support to early-career science teachers. Since its inception, the Academy has provided high-quality professional development to more than 600 science teachers nationwide.

For a list of the 2011-12 Fellows or to learn more about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, visit www.nsta.org/academy.

Source: National Science Teachers Association