Online Academy Program Brings Successes of Sally Ride Science Training to Educators Across the United States
08/14/13
(San Diego, CA) – Today, Sally Ride Science announced the launch of a new online academy designed to provide professional development in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to educators across the United States.
Building on its popular Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil, the online academy will deliver convenient access to proven instructional approaches and resources that have already helped educators ignite interest in STEM subjects and careers among students in 51 school districts in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
The online academy will debut in 17 school districts that sent teachers and administrators to the Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil in San Diego in July of 2013. The online course, an element of ExxonMobil’s partnership with Sally Ride Science, will enable those educators to redeliver the STEM professional development program to colleagues in their home districts during the 2013-2014 school year.
“The online academy will dramatically improve access to our professional development training,” says Sally Ride Science CEO Sheryle Bolton. “The traditional train-the-trainer model required trainers to arrange facilities and schedule sessions for busy teachers, while administrators had to provide substitutes. Now participants can enjoy the training online, according to their own schedules and preferences, enabling us to reach thousands more educators across the country.”
“Preparing today’s students for a future that will depend on strong backgrounds in science and math is one of our top priorities,” said Suzanne McCarron, general manager, public and government affairs, ExxonMobil. “ExxonMobil’s partnership with Sally Ride Science provides teachers with key resources to energize America’s youth and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM fields.” The online academy offers three versions of STEM professional development: upper elementary teachers (grades 3-5); middle school teachers (grades 6-8); and school counselors. Each course offers educators new practical approaches and tools for helping students see the opportunities in STEM fields through real careers from a diverse array of practicing professionals.
“We know most students are engaged and curious about science and math in the early elementary grades,” Bolton says. “But too many students—particularly girls and under-represented minorities—lose interest in those disciplines by the end of middle school. Economists tell us that more than 80 percent of all jobs in the coming decades will require some kind of STEM background. It is essential for our nation’s future that we help prepare students to seize this opportunity.”
The Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil was developed through a partnership between Sally Ride Science and ExxonMobil. This new online model continues as part of ExxonMobil’s commitment to strengthen math and science education in the United States, which includes investments in numerous other initiatives that support the professional development of educators and encourages students to pursue careers in STEM fields.
School districts currently receiving access to the new online academy include:
- Anchorage School District, AK
- Baldwin County Schools, AL
- Mobile County Schools, AL
- San Diego USD, CA
- Washington DC Public Schools
- Joliet Public Schools District 86, IL
- East Baton Rouge Parish School System, LA
- Jefferson Parish Public Schools, LA
- Billings Public Schools, MT
- Aldine ISD, TX
- Arlington ISD, TX
- Austin ISD, TX
- Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, TX
- Dallas ISD, TX
- Houston ISD, TX
- Richardson ISD, TX
- Spring ISD, TX
- Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Prince William County Public Schools, VA
About Sally Ride Science
Sally Ride Science provides college and career readiness training and tools to build students’ passion for STEM fields and careers. Founded by Dr. Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, the company brings science to life for upper-elementary and middle school students, and offers professional development via the Sally Ride Science Academy, showing educators how to incorporate engaging career-focused approaches into their existing instruction. Additionally, Sally Ride Science administers Sally Ride EarthKAM, a unique NASA-funded educational outreach program enabling students, teachers, and the public to learn about Earth from the unique perspective of space.
About Exxon Mobil Corporation
ExxonMobil is the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company and operates in most of the world’s countries, using technology and innovation to help meet growing energy needs. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels In 2012, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $256 million in contributions worldwide, of which $116 million was dedicated to education. www.exxonmobil.com/community.