Pennsylvania Takes Important Step To Ensure Its High-Need Schools Have Excellent Stem Teachers
NEWS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, July 17, 2019
CONTACT: Patrick Riccards | riccards@woodrow.org | (703) 298-8283
Inaugural Class Of Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows To Help State Construct Strong Pipeline Of Science, Math Teachers
PRINCETON, NJ (July 17, 2019)—As part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s commitment to close the achievement gaps and provide all students with high-quality teachers, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation today announced the inaugural class of Pennsylvania Teaching Fellows.
Twenty-four individuals will be part of the first cohort of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program in the state (Fellow names follow at the end of this release). They recently began their programs at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and Duquesne University.
The highly competitive program recruits both recent graduates and career changers with strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math—the STEM fields—and prepares them specifically to teach in high-need secondary schools. Pennsylvania Teaching Fellows will also begin the program at West Chester University in 2020.
“Pennsylvania is a national leader for investing in science and technology education, and we need more great STEM teachers,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “These fellows will help expand quality STEM learning and prepare generations of students for high-growth fields that Pennsylvania needs. I commend the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation for its commitment to STEM learning.”
The WW Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship focuses on preparing top-quality educators for many of the state’s most underserved public schools. Each Fellow receives $32,000 to complete a specially designed, cutting-edge master’s degree program based on a yearlong classroom experience. In return, Fellows commit to teach for three years in the high-need Pennsylvania schools. Throughout the three-year commitment as a teacher of record at a public school, Fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring.
“The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship helps build a more effective teacher workforce while expanding the pipeline of individuals considering a career in education,” Woodrow Wilson Foundation President Rajiv Vinnakota said. “Through the Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship program, the state is able to strengthen its teacher preparation programs while recruiting and developing educators committed to school improvement and closing the achievement gaps.”
Selected in a statewide review by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the university partners have spent the past year ensuring their teacher preparation programs meet the Fellowship’s standards for intensive clinical work and rigorous related coursework. West Chester University will join Duquesne and Penn in offering the program for the 2020-21 academic year. The work at West Chester University will later be replicated on other campuses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
“These Fellows share our commitment to making sure every child in Philadelphia has the opportunity to experience an excellent education,” said Pam Grossman, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. “Over the next year, they will work closely with Penn GSE faculty and experienced educators in our city’s schools, and graduate prepared to make an impact in the lives of Philadelphia students.”
