Fellowship will prepare math and science teachers

Grand Valley will soon be looking for applicants for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship. The Fellowship is open to graduating college seniors, recent graduates and mid-career or second-career professionals with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) who are interested in teaching in Michigan’s high-need, urban secondary schools.

Grand Valley was one of six Michigan universities chosen to participate in the program, aimed at increasing the number of science and mathematics teachers. The university will develop an innovative master’s level teacher preparation program linked with intensive classroom experience in the candidate’s field of expertise.

Loretta Konecki is the project director of Grand Valley’s Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Program; Ellen Schiller, associate professor of education, and Jann Joseph, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are the internal evaluators for the project. Additional team members include Provost Gayle Davis; Tracey James-Heer, Graduate Admissions; Chris Barbee, Alumni Relations; Mary Eilleen Lyon, News and Information Services; and Dottie Barnes, News and Information Services.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for Grand Valley to participate in this program,” said Konecki. “It gives us an opportunity to create a unique master’s level certification program that is clinically based in urban schools and addresses Michigan’s need for outstanding urban mathematics and science teachers.”

Applicants selected by the Wilson Foundation and Grand Valley will each receive a $30,000 Fellowship in exchange for a three-year urban teaching commitment. Twenty Fellows will be selected for admission to each of the 2011 and 2012 cohorts. Applicants for the 2011 cohort may apply beginning June 15. More information can be found at www.woodrow.org/fellowships/teaching/michigan/index.php.