37°
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it is collaborating with NASA, Teachers College and the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Education Leadership Center in Rye to create the Hudson Valley STEM Teaching Fellowship.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at its company headquarters in Tarrytown on Tuesday.
The fellowship will train teachers on how to integrate STEM into classroom instruction. Regeneron believes it is important to enhance STEM instruction since that is where many jobs of the future are.
"From this soil will spring the scientists of tomorrow," Dr. George Yancopoulous, chief scientific officer at Regeneron, said.
Lawrence Perretto, executive director of the STEM Education Leadership Center, talked about integrating iPods into classrooms in Mount Vernon and how they make the students more engaged.
"Students don't like using paper and pencil," Perretto said. "If you give them an iPod, it changes everything. They are arguing over who enters the data. We are looking at possible future chemical engineers. They are deeply motivated."
Perretto said teachers will become well-versed in STEM teaching with this initiative.
"Hudson Valley STEM Fellows will be engaged in three keys areas critical to transforming science education: graduate studies in STEM pedagogy through Columbia Teachers College, a professional science research experience at Regeneron, and informal classroom training in STEM teaching methods with award winning STEM educators," Perretto said.
Ten high-school teachers from the Hudson Valley will be selected through a competitive application process as Regeneron Fellows to participate in the STEM Teaching Fellowship program. The STEM Education Leadership Center will form a selection committee consisting of science education experts from Teachers College and scientists from Regeneron.
Applicants must hold a valid New York State certification in science or technology education. The fellowship program, which runs from Summer 2014 to Summer 2015, consists of the following three experiences: NASA Endeavor Coursework, Regeneron Science Mentorship, Informal STEM Classroom Internship.
The STEM Teaching Fellowship program builds on the Westchester STEM Initiative, a pilot program for Mount Vernon school students funded by Regeneron and the Westchester County Youth Bureau.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Tarrytown-SleepyHollow and receive free news updates.
