San Diego, CA, May 6, 2014—Sally Ride Science, with support from the Northrop Grumman Foundation, will deliver in-person professional development for educators at five different locations across the United States throughout 2014. Each of these training events will cover the topic “Ignite Student Interest in STEM,” and is specifically designed to train teachers in best practices on how to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics and careers.
The first workshop takes place Saturday, May 10, from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Northrop Grumman facility in Bellevue, Nebraska, just outside of Omaha. The next scheduled workshops take place on Saturday, June 14, at the Twin Peaks Center in Poway, CA, just outside of San Diego, CA, and on Saturday, August 23, at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. Two other workshops are scheduled to take place in 2014 in Los Angeles, CA, and Warner Robins, GA (exact dates and locations to be determined).
“So much of what we do at Sally Ride Science—through our science and STEM career eBooks, our online and in-person Sally Ride Science Academy teacher training, and our educator workshops like the ones sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation —is about equipping teachers with the training and tools they need to help their students make connections between what they are learning today with what they can do with that learning in the future,” said Tam O’Shaughnessy, CEO and cofounder of Sally Ride Science. “The focus on the diverse men and women working in STEM today is critical because it helps students imagine themselves as a STEM professional and it motivates them to become scientifically literate. And as Sally once said, ‘The challenge isn’t getting kids interested in science; it’s keeping them interested.’”
“We’re thrilled to again partner with the Northrop Grumman Foundation to empower teachers and their students,” said Dr. Karen Flammer, cofounder of Sally Ride Science and Senior Advisor for Science and Professional Development. “Exciting students about STEM in grades 4-8 is one of the best ways to prepare them for the academic work in high school that can open up opportunities in STEM in college or the workplace. Through the training we’ll deliver in Nebraska and across the US, we can help teachers get their students thinking about their futures and the possibilities that exist for them in STEM careers.”
Each event will bring together dozens of educators and administrators with Sally Ride Science faculty for one day of training. Participants will receive professional development credit along with Sally Ride Science books and other resources they can incorporate into classroom instruction to enhance learning. Sally Ride Science faculty, composed of nationally recognized current and former teachers, will lead the training.
“The Northrop Grumman Foundation is committed to providing unique educational experiences related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students and teachers,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation and vice president, Northrop Grumman Global Corporate Responsibility. “Our partnership with Sally Ride Science is just one example of the great successes we have seen with the STEM programs we support around the country for teachers.”
About Northrop Grumman Foundation
The Northrop Grumman Foundation supports diverse and sustainable programs for students and teachers. These programs create innovative education experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For more information, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/foundation