RALEIGH, N.C. – On National Teacher Day, the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development is pleased to announce its 2016–17 fellowship awards for K–12 educators. Forty-one teachers from across North Carolina have been selected from a pool of more than 130 highly-qualified applicants.
The 2016–17 Kenan Fellows will spend at least three weeks of their summer interning with local experts in nanotechnology, aquaculture, energy, and other STEM fields. Traditionally, teachers go from earning a college degree straight to the classroom and do not spend time working in business or industry. The Kenan Fellows Program internship gives educators the practical knowledge and application to better prepare students for college and careers.
“The program’s focus on real-world professional learning shows educators what STEM looks like in practice, provides knowledge of local career opportunities available to students, and strengthens collaboration with industry to build deeper connections to the community,” said Dr. Elaine Franklin, director of the Kenan Fellows Program.
As part of the award, Kenan Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend and participate in 80 hours of professional development focused on project-based instruction, digital learning and leadership development. Educators who complete the year-long program remain in the classroom while growing professionally as part of a statewide network of teacher leaders. Today, an elite network of more than 350 Kenan Fellows are working to improve STEM education in North Carolina and beyond.
Established in 2000 as an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at N.C. State University, the Kenan Fellows Program addresses the critical need for high-quality professional development for educators, and is the largest (science, technology, engineering and math) STEM-focused teacher fellowship in North Carolina.
The fellowships are made possible through the generous support of the program’s many corporate, education and foundation partners including the Biogen Foundation, the National Science Foundation, Goodnight Educational Foundation, Bayer, Google Fiber, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Pee Dee Electric, FREEDM Systems Center, Merck Foundation, N.C. State University, New Hanover County Farm Bureau, Ply Gem, SAMSI, NISS, Duplin County Schools, and Greene County Schools.
2016–17 Kenan Fellows, fellowship projects, mentors and supporters are listed by school district.