Professional Development For Teachers, By Teachers 

 

Moorestown, N.J., January 4, 2018 – The Knowles Teacher Initiative announced the launch of the Knowles Academy, a new arm of the organization that will expand its reach and impact by providing support for teachers seeking to enhance the opportunities their students have to learn mathematics and science. Through the Knowles Academy, the organization will offer a range of professional development opportunities for teachers, as well as customized services for schools and districts.

The Knowles Academy was designed to address many of the shortcomings of traditional teacher professional development. Drawing and building on the expertise developed within the Knowles community over the last 15 years:

  • All Knowles Academy courses and services include experienced teachers as facilitators and coaches.
  • All Knowles Academy courses and services are designed to build teacher community so that participants can continue to support each other’s learning and professional growth long after the professional development experience ends.
  • All Academy courses include extended support to assist teachers as they work to successfully implement what they’ve learned in their own classrooms.

“Teachers need high quality, sustained professional development to help mathematics and science students develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are needed to align with the changing landscape of education in the U.S.,” stated Nicole Gillespie, Executive Director and CEO, Knowles Teacher Initiative. “Our goal is to leverage what we’ve learned from the Knowles Fellows Programs over the past 20 years to support the professional growth of many more teachers, and thereby strengthen and grow the nationwide network of teachers who are improving education in their classrooms and beyond.”

The following Academy courses will be offered in summer 2018:

Additionally, the Knowles Academy is seeking teachers to participate in pilot versions of three new courses in summer 2018. These courses are available for a nominal fee to teachers who are willing to provide feedback on course content and effectiveness:

“I really felt I got so much out of the workshop and am excited to implement ideas in my classroom next year. I felt I walked away with a deeper understanding of the engineering design process and much more confidence and skills in using the engineering design process in my science classroom,” said Shannon Morey, a physics and computer science teacher at Abbott Lawrence Academy in Lawrence, Mass., who attended the Engaging Math and Science Students in Engineering Design Knowles Academy course.

Visit the new Knowles website to learn more about the Academy.

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