KSTF Teaching Fellowships
In the United States, approximately half of all secondary teachers leave the teaching profession within five years. Research on issues of recruitment, retention and induction of secondary science and mathematics teachers indicates that among key challenges facing beginning teachers are a sense of professional isolation and a lack of support and mentoring. The KSTF Teaching Fellowship program was explicitly designed to meet these needs of beginning high school science and mathematics teachers as they earn a teaching credential and through the early years of their career.
KSTF Teaching Fellows are young men and women who have received a bachelor's or advanced degree in science, engineering or mathematics and are committed to teaching high school science and/or mathematics in U.S. schools. The fellowship supports them professionally and financially for up to five years through a teacher preparation program to eligibility for tenure.
During the initial academic year of the fellowship, fellows typically participate in a recognized teacher credentialing program. After receiving a teaching credential and beginning a career in teaching, fellows continue to receive training and support.
Each year, the fellows meet three times - in summer, fall and spring - occasionally in conjunction with a professional meeting for science or mathematics teachers. Fellows communicate electronically with each other regularly via electronic discussion boards. For those fellows who are full-time teachers, support is available for a local mentor and for instructional materials. During the summers, Teaching Fellows have opportunities to engage in professional development activities that will enhance their ability to teach science and mathematics.
Aside from receiving financial support, KSTF Teaching Fellows are part of a network of outstanding beginning teachers who are grappling with the same issues of teacher preparation and induction. Throughout the five-year fellowship, fellows are exposed to a variety of teaching resources, curriculum materials, research and experts in the field. Most importantly, fellows develop into a community of scholars of high school science and mathematics teaching - confident in their own teaching abilities, able to support each other, and ready to act as leaders in science and mathematics education.
For more information on KSTF Teaching Fellowships, contact: teachers@kstf.org.