NSTA Issues National Call for Entries to the 2008-2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy

Academy Established to Promote Quality Science Teaching and Reduce High Attrition Rate Among New Teachers in the Science Teaching Profession

ARLINGTON, Va., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --- The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, today announced a call for entries for the 2008-2009 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The Academy attracted nearly a thousand applications from across the country in its first year and is now embarking on its second year of supporting science teachers new to the profession.

"Providing quality professional development and mentoring support to early-career science teachers is crucial if we are going to significantly improve science education in the U.S.," said Gerry Wheeler, executive director, NSTA. "This program focuses on helping beginning science educators teach more effectively in the classroom by providing resources and quality veteran advice."

Co-founded by the Amgen Foundation, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is a fellowship program created to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge. NSTA Fellows selected for the program will receive a comprehensive membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars. In addition, each NSTA Fellow will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA's 2009 National Conference on Science Education in New Orleans. This year's 150 new science teachers supported by the Amgen Foundation will be named Amgen-NSTA Fellows.

Science teachers located throughout the country who will be entering their second or third year of teaching and whose schedule is a minimum of 51 percent middle or high school science, can apply to the become an NSTA Fellow. For more information about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy or to learn how to apply to become a fellow, please visit http://www.nsta.org/academy. Applications must be submitted no later than May 23, 2008 to be considered.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (http://www.nsta.org) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes more than 57,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

About The Amgen Foundation

The Amgen Foundation (http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/overview.html) seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the Foundation has made nearly $110 million in grants to local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. It has also supported disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.