Two HCPS elementary school teachers selected from more than 1,500 teachers nationwide
Christina Eyler, fourth grade teacher at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School, and Dawn Johnson, fourth grade teacher at Church Creek Elementary School, have been selected to attend the 2015 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ. Ms. Eyler and Ms. Johnson are two of 155 highly-qualified third through fifth grade teachers from around the country selected to attend the intensive week long, all-expense-paid, professional development curriculum. The program equips them with innovative ways to teach science and math and to inspire their students in these subjects.
A panel of educators from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) selected Ms. Eyler and Ms. Johnson to attend the Academy. The panel based their decision on their qualifications, dedication to inspiring students at an early age and their overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession.
During the Academy, which is scheduled for July 27-31, teachers discover new ways to excite students using experiments that demonstrate various math and science concepts including force, gravity and probability. Working in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions, the Academy curriculum was developed around the three principles most common to national educational benchmarks for the third- through fifth-grade age range: Newton’s laws of motion, action and reaction, and motion and forces.
ExxonMobil partnered with PGA Golfer Phil Mickelson, and his wife Amy to create the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy in 2005. The curriculum for the Academy is developed in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions who also provide experienced faculty for the intensive training. The Academy is designed to engage students in math and science at an early age and to retain their interest in these subjects through college and into their careers.
“Amy and I understand firsthand the influence teachers have on students,” Phil Mickelson said. “We are excited to see not only the initial inspiration that comes from the Academy week, but also the additional activity from classrooms when teachers apply what they’ve learned to help their students understand, engage and truly be inspired about STEM subjects.”
Recent test scores from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rank the U.S. 21st in science and 26th in math when compared to other OECD nations. The Business Center for a College- and Career-Ready America also reports that almost all of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will require at least some STEM background.
This year, more than 500 teachers will attend one of the three Academies scheduled in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. To date, more than 4,500 teachers have attended the Academy, impacting more than 300,000 students from across the country with the lessons and skills they learned.
To nominate local teachers for the 2016 Academy, please visit www.sendmyteacher.com.
About Exxon Mobil Corporation
Exxon Mobil Corporation, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in the United States, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria. In 2014, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $279 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contribution programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation
Since its inception in 2004, the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation is focused on supporting a variety of youth and family initiatives including the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy and Smart Start. The Foundation’s mission is to operate exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes; established as a 501(c)3, it is a non-fundraising, private foundation. For more information visit www.PhilMickelson.com.
National Science Teachers Association
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes approximately 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
Math Solutions
Math Solutions, founded in 1984 by Marilyn Burns, has provided a wide range of professional development services and resource materials to more than 500 districts, in 47 states, helping more than 200,000 teachers and administrators across the country. For more information, visit www.mathsolutions.com.
