Kenan Fellows Program receives NCSTA award

The Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development at North Carolina State University received the Don Bailey College/University Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA). The award is given in recognition for exceptional service to science education.

“We are honored to be the first education program to receive this award,” said Dr. Valerie Brown-Schild, director of the Kenan Fellows Program. “It speaks volumes to the success of the program we have implemented across our state. We believe the program has the potential to be used as a model for other states.”

The Kenan Fellows Program is an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science to develop substantive partnerships between university and industry researchers and in-service K-12 teachers with the goal of creating innovative and relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Public school teachers from diverse disciplines are selected to participate in the prestigious two-year fellowship, during which time they collaborate with a research mentor while remaining active in the classroom.

The program also promotes teacher leadership and addresses teacher retention. Since the program began in 2000, more than 100 K-12 teachers have been awarded a fellowship. Eighty-three percent of Kenan Fellows have remained in the classroom with some receiving additional local and national awards and accolades for their work.

“What makes this award recognition especially gratifying is that it represents a validation of the Kenan Fellows program model by North Carolina science teachers,” said Raj Narayan, associate director of the Kenan Institute. “It is a testament to the value that teachers receive from taking part in the program.”

NCSTA was formed in 1969 with the mission of promoting excellence in science teaching and learning in North Carolina. The organization continues to thrive with more than 2,000 members across the state.