Premier Professional Learning Program Kicks off Fourth Year of Providing Pedagogical and Mentoring Support to Middle Level Educators

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Sept. 24, 2018 – Applications are now being accepted for the fourth annual Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy. The program - designed for middle school teachers (grades 5-8) - was established to help enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while increasing teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce. This year the Academy, which is administered by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), will support 29 teachers located in school districts in select Northrop Grumman communities.

“We are excited to welcome our fourth class of Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy Fellows from Northrop Grumman communities in the U.S. and Australia,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president, global corporate responsibility, Northrop Grumman and president, the Northrop Grumman Foundation. “These exceptional educators excite and ignite learning in today’s youth. Through this program and their local partnership at our sites, we strive to provide each fellow with the additional tools and resources needed to help bring STEM to life in their classrooms.”

“Teachers more than ever have a vital role to play in helping students realize their futures by providing them with a solid foundation in STEM and preparing students for success in a technology-driven workforce,” said Dr. David Evans, executive director, NSTA. “The Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy gives teachers a unique professional learning experience, enabling them to connect their curriculum to real-world applications, which enriches and strengthens their teaching and brings relevance and context to student learning.”

Teachers selected for the program - who will be known as Teacher Fellows - will:

• Attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis, Missouri and pre-conference special events, April 8-14, 2019;
• Participate in a summer five-day workshop at a Northrop Grumman facility in Linthicum, Maryland, June 23-28, 2019, where they will continue to explore teaching strategies and programs for integrating effective and authentic engineering design practices and workforce skills in their classroom;
• Participate in an immersive, 70-hour externship at a local Northrop Grumman facility, where they will be partnered with an engineer/technologist to observe and experience critical workforce skills in action (July 8-19, 2019);
• Engage in online professional learning through a comprehensive NSTA membership package which offers a variety of web-based professional learning activities, including a specially designated online learning community;
• Develop classroom applications that integrate an authentic and "real-world" application linked to the externship experiences; and
• Access tools/resources to develop strategies to share their learning with colleagues to build capacity within their schools and districts.

Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy Eligibility

      Educators can apply to become a Teacher Fellow if they are:

• Current middle school physical science, engineering, and technology classroom teachers located in school districts in select Northrop Grumman communities;
• Have a minimum of two years of middle school teaching experience; and
• Have a strong desire to advance engineering and technology education by applying real-world applications in the classroom.

For more information about the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy or to learn how to apply, visit the Academy website. Applications must be submitted no later than Nov. 12, 2018.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation and Northrop Grumman are dedicated to increasing STEM educational opportunities for students so they can fill future workforce needs for talented and diverse professionals. In 2017 the Northrop Grumman Foundation and Northrop Grumman contributed more than $20.4 million to diverse STEM-focused organizations and programs. Our partnerships focus on engineering and technology-based initiatives that excite, engage and educate students, with an emphasis on middle school and university level programs. Defending cyber networks, engineering autonomous vehicles and exploring space are just a few examples of the skills students develop as they experience the excitement of STEM through programs supported by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and Northrop Grumman. Programs such as the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy provide professional development opportunities for STEM teachers, who ultimately can inspire and educate the future talent base.

The Arlington, Virginia-based National Science Teachers Association is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, preschool through college. NSTA’s membership includes approximately 50,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business representatives, and others involved in science education.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information