NSTA New Science Teacher Academy Now Accepting Entries for the 2013-2014 Program

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all, is now accepting entries for the 2013-2014 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The year-long program—intended for science educators entering their second through fifth year of teaching—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.

“The American Honda Foundation is proud to support NSTA’s New Science Teacher Academy”

For this academic year, The Dow Chemical Company, the primary sponsor of the program, the American Honda Foundation, and the Bayer USA Foundation will fund the participation of the science teachers selected to participate in the 2013-2014 Academy.

“Having exceptional teachers in the classroom to help students develop their critical thinking skills and inspire them to be excited about learning science is absolutely critical if we want to reinvigorate STEM education in our nation’s schools,” said Dr. David Evans, NSTA Executive Director. “The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, which focuses on both content and pedagogy, provides science educators new to the teaching profession with the tools, resources and support needed to help them succeed in the classroom.”

“Dow realizes that teachers are a critical conduit to helping our young people develop a passion for careers in science,” said Bo Miller, president and executive director of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. “We see the New Science Teacher Academy as an important resource for early-career science teachers and we are proud to support their professional growth.”

“The American Honda Foundation is proud to support NSTA’s New Science Teacher Academy,” said Alexandra Warnier, manager American Honda Foundation. “We believe that investing in teachers through programs like these, focused on quality science teaching, ensures that our children become more competitive to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.”

“In order to ensure that we are filling the pipeline of future STEM professionals, we must invest in today’s teachers,” said Sarah Toulouse, executive director of the Bayer USA Foundation and donations officer, Bayer Corporation. “As a science-based company, we understand the importance of quality teachers and the positive, long-term impact they can have on the student population.”

Launched during the spring of 2007, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, co-founded with a grant from the Amgen Foundation, is 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 development to more than a thousand science teachers nationwide.

NSTA Fellows selected for the program receive a comprehensive 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 NSTA Fellow receives financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s 2014 National Conference on Science Education in Boston.

Science teachers located throughout the country who will be entering their second through fifth year of teaching and whose schedule is a minimum of 51 percent middle or high school science, can apply to become an NSTA Fellow. For more information about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy or to learn how to apply to become a fellow, please visit the Academy website. Applications must be submitted no later than August 1, 2013 to be considered.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) 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 The Dow Chemical Company Foundation

Established in 1979, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation serves as an important extension of the tradition of philanthropy of The Dow Chemical Company. The mission of the Foundation is to contribute to a more sustainable world by focusing financial contributions on the elements of economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, social support, and science education.

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 and the Bayer USA Foundation

Bayer Corporation is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. As an inventor company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. The Corporation is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In North America, Bayer had 2011 net sales of EUR 8,177 million ($11,366 million) and employed 15,800 at year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.

The Bayer USA Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) entity and is the primary source of Bayer Corporation’s philanthropy in the United States. With a programmatic focus on the environment and sustainability; education and workforce development; arts and culture; and health and human services, the foundation creates and supports organizations that improve communities in which Bayer employees live and work, as well as society at large. 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 bayerus.com/foundation.