Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers

Program Officer Alfred Mays Provides Insight into the Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers

Transcription of “Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers”

00;00;02;19 – 00;00;20;01
Ernie Hood
We are here to share some important information about the career award for science and mathematics teachers from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Joining me now is fund program officer for Science Education and Diversity, Alfred Mays, who oversees the award program.

00;00;20;01 – 00;00;43;26
Alfred Mays
The Career Awards for Science and Math Teachers is one of our more recent awards. We’ve had several cycles It’s being offered every other year. We begin in 2012 and we concluded our last session in 2016. Now we’re upon our next cycle and we’re looking forward to creating greater awareness across the state with this particular award as its title.

00;00;44;01 – 00;00;52;17
Alfred Mays
It recognizes the best and brightest in STEM across the state. It references science and math, but we like to say that it’s really recognizing STEM teachers.

00;00;52;26 – 00;01;01;15
Ernie Hood
Alfred The deadline is rapidly approaching for this year’s awards applications. Fill us in on when it is and what needs to be done.

00;01;01;18 – 00;01;30;28
Alfred Mays
We open up the request for proposals on May 21st through an online submission that can be made through the open application period, which, as you stated, closes September 24th of this year. And we did that in a strategic way. We want to provide teachers with awareness of this award at the end of the school year that would allow them time over the summer to actually reflect and prepare their proposal and to hopefully make final submission at the beginning of the school year.

00;01;31;03 – 00;01;44;07
Alfred Mays
We typically ended the application previously in mid-September, but knowing how busy teachers are at the beginning of each school year, we decided to extend it an additional week. So we’re very hopeful that that will result in an increase in the applicant pool.

00;01;44;08 – 00;01;50;26
Ernie Hood
Are there any other important aspects of the application process that interested teachers need to know?

00;01;51;02 – 00;02;24;19
Alfred Mays
I think the grant applications and in some instances can be intimidating, especially when you’re referring to the best and brightest across the state in STEM teaching and learning. I would offer to teachers that the Burroughs Wellcome Fund seeks to recognize the best and brightest, and we know that teachers across the state are talented. Many of them feel that promoting themselves is somewhat difficult, but we seek for them to do that, to highlight their accomplishments, to highlight the body of work, their successes and what they would propose in terms of having an impact on student growth and outcomes.

00;02;25;02 – 00;02;41;00
Alfred Mays
So the grant application itself is somewhat formal. The process and reviewing selections is somewhat formal, but teachers should be able to relax and simply reflect and propose knowing that they do wonderful things in the classroom every day. And we just like to know more about what they’re doing and recognize that.

00;02;42;10 – 00;02;50;04
Ernie Hood
So should interested teachers contact you directly if they have questions about the application process or the status of their applications?

00;02;50;09 – 00;03;14;24
Alfred Mays
I think those interested in applying should perhaps go to our website and get a get general overview of the the award program itself. And after reviewing the information, share on the website, feel free to give our staff a call for any questions or if they’re in need of additional information. I would also suggest that those interested perhaps visit our website and look at our prior award recipients.

00;03;14;24 – 00;03;27;21
Alfred Mays
Our cohort of awardees stand ready to answer questions and actually share information about their experience from the application process through the actual end of the war period and the impact that they’ve had as a result of the war.

00;03;28;13 – 00;03;37;18
Ernie Hood
Alfred, thanks for joining me today. To help generate new interest and enthusiasm for the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for science and mathematics teachers.

00;03;37;27 – 00;03;42;21
Alfred Mays
Thank you, Terry, and thanks for sharing this information with our volunteers.