The Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Career Award for STEM Teachers recognizes outstanding STEM teachers in North Carolina public primary and secondary schools.

The award provides $175,000 over five years. It is available to North Carolina teachers with an outstanding performance record in educating children and demonstrating a solid knowledge of STEM content.

This award presents opportunities for professional development and collaboration with other master science and/or mathematics teachers who will help ensure their success as teachers and their satisfaction with the teaching field. The award allows schools and school districts to develop and fully empower teachers as leaders in the field.

Teachers working in hard-to-staff, economically deprived classrooms in North Carolina will receive special consideration. Efforts to integrate environmental science and climate change into STEM-related curricula will also receive special consideration.

The Fund and the State Board of Education recognize that improving STEM education in North Carolina will require systemic revision of K-12 instruction.

Teachers who are content-area experts with pedagogical skills are critical to ensuring students’ success in understanding STEM subjects. These teachers can make a difference by serving as change agents for their students and other educators across the state.