Preparing Our Educators

Ohio University Seeks Applicants for Prestigious STEM Teaching Fellowship

Tim McKeny presents findings from his "Better Mathematics Through Literacy" program.

Athens, Ohio (Nov. 15, 2011) – Ohio University, in conjunction with the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, is seeking applications for the next cohort of Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellows who will change the world, one student at a time. Among seven Ohio campuses selected to participate in this statewide program, Ohio University is the only one preparing Fellows to teach in rural schools and offering Fellows full tuition support. Current college seniors, recent graduates, retirees and career changers with a strong background in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (the STEM fields) are encouraged to apply.

Each Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellow receives a $30,000 cash stipend, admission to a master’s degree program, preparation in a rural high-need secondary school, support and mentoring throughout a three-year teaching commitment, guidance toward earning a teaching license, and a lifelong membership in a national network of highly respected intellectual leaders. In addition to the Fellowship, Ohio University is also offering a full-tuition scholarship to Teaching Fellows – an excellent financial incentive not offered by other Woodrow Wilson Foundation partners in Ohio.

The Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship program has an intensive one-year in-school clinical teaching component that connects directly with university coursework as a part of preparing new teachers for careers in middle school mathematics and science or high school mathematics, chemistry, life science, or physics. Faculty from OHIO’s Patton College of Education, in partnership with faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, will prepare Fellows to begin their teaching careers. Faculty will also mentor Fellows and offer other support for their first three years of teaching. Dual licenses may be possible for those who have extensive backgrounds in STEM.

Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellows attending Ohio University will also enjoy living in naturally beautiful Athens and enjoy the benefits of both a small town and a large university. Among Fellows at the seven Ohio campuses participating in the Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship, only Ohio University Fellows will complete their teaching in rural, instead of urban, schools.

“Individuals with a strong science or mathematics background who want to teach and understand that to ensure success for our country in the 21st century, schools need to educate students to higher standards and graduate more students who are well-prepared for careers in the STEM fields,” said Renee Middleton, dean of the Patton College of Education.

The recommended application deadline for the 2012 cohort of teaching fellows is Dec. 21, 2011. Enrollment is limited. For more information on the program and application process, visit www.woodrow.org/ohio and http://www.ohio.edu/wwappohio.