I received an email from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation announcing that they are now accepting applications for its prestigious KSTF Teaching Fellowships. Renewable for up to five years and valued at up to $150,000, the highly competitive Fellowships support America’s best and brightest teachers of high school mathematics and science at the critical early juncture of their career.

Here are the details for the Science Teaching Fellowships:

Moorestown, NJ, September 20, 2010 ¾ The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation, an advocate for beginning teachers and the teaching profession, is now accepting applications for its prestigious KSTF Teaching Fellowships. Renewable for up to five years and valued at up to $150,000, the highly competitive Fellowships support America’s best and brightest teachers of high school mathematics and science at the critical early juncture of their career.

“The KSTF Fellowship welcomes young men and women with rigorous academic training, in-depth knowledge of science and mathematics and strong leadership skills,” said Dr.  Nicole Gillespie, KSTF’s Associate Director for Teaching Fellowships.  “Most importantly, we’re seeking candidates who recognize that learning to teach takes significant time and effort and demonstrate a commitment to teaching as a profession.”

The cornerstone program of the Foundation, the KSTF Teaching Fellowships are explicitly designed to meet the needs of teachers from the start of the credentialing process through the early years of their careers. Benefits include tuition assistance, monthly stipends and support for summer professional development, as well as regular meetings, online discussions, and a structured mentor relationship for each Fellow.  A key aspect of the fellowship is access to the nationwide network of KSTF Fellows, a community of like-minded colleagues working together to improve their craft.

The Teaching Fellowships are awarded annually in the areas of biological sciences, mathematics and physical sciences.  KSTF awarded its first four Teaching Fellowships in 2002. To date, there are 159 Teaching Fellows and alumni nationwide across 32 states.  Highly accomplished, KSTF Fellows hail from top universities such as Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkeley.   Thirty of the current 124 fellows have advanced degrees in science, mathematics or engineering. Among the Teaching Fellows are individuals who have been named Teacher of the Year, serve as department chairs, lead professional development workshops for other teachers, and have published research and practitioner articles in professional journals.

“Becoming a master teacher requires sustained training and support,” said Dr. Nicole Gillespie, KSTF’s Associate Director. “Our goal is to empower young high school science and mathematics teachers to become leaders in education who bring passion, innovative thinking and successful teaching strategies into our nation’s classrooms.”

KSTF application process is now open on www.kstf.org.  The deadline for submitting applications is 5pm EST Wednesday, January 12, 2011.  Only online submissions will be considered.