Sally Ride Science Academy Engages Teachers, Counselors to Inspire Students in Science and Math

EON: Sally Ride Science Academy Engages Teachers, Counselors to Inspire Students in Science and Math
This press release was posted on June 17, 2011, and I apologize for not sharing it earlier, but I thought it made interesting reading.

275 Educators Selected from Across the Country to Attend 2011 Academy

More than 395 educators trained to date, impacting an additional 2,700 educators nationally
Academy showcases diverse role models in science and engineering fields
Program made possible by the support of ExxonMobil
June 16, 2011 01:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
IRVING, Texas--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil announced today that 275 upper elementary and middle school educators from across the country were selected to learn new, innovative strategies to raise students’ awareness of and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.

“Partnering with ExxonMobil, we continue to make strides in equipping talented educators with key tools to prepare and encourage young students, particularly girls, to pursue science and math careers.”
The Academy is a partnership between Sally Ride Science, founded by the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally Ride, and ExxonMobil. The program educates teachers and counselors on the importance of introducing young students to STEM careers, showcases diverse role models in those careers, and provides pathways to incorporate STEM career awareness in the classroom. In addition, the Academy provides gender equity training to help educators foster an encouraging, collaborative learning environment.

“Through the teachers and counselors trained during the Academy sessions this year, we will be able to introduce even more young people to exciting STEM fields,” Ride said. “Partnering with ExxonMobil, we continue to make strides in equipping talented educators with key tools to prepare and encourage young students, particularly girls, to pursue science and math careers.”

The Academy utilizes a train-the-trainer model that prepares Academy graduates to train other teachers in their district during the 2011-2012 school year. Graduates and their trainees will receive sets of the Sally Ride Science Cool Career book series for use in their classrooms. Since the inaugural Academy in 2009, the Academy has trained more than 395 educators in 41 districts spanning 14 states and the District of Columbia. Those educators have since returned to their districts and trained more than 2,700 additional educators using Academy materials.

“We are excited by the progress this program is making to raise awareness of the importance of science and math education in our nation’s classrooms. It will help educators open the eyes of their students to the fun and diverse STEM careers that await them,” said Suzanne McCarron, general manager, public and government affairs, ExxonMobil. “ExxonMobil believes in the importance of preparing young people to meet the challenges of the future with a solid understanding of science and math.”

The three Academy sessions taking place this summer in San Diego are scheduled for:

Sunday, June 19, 2011 – Thursday, June 23, 2011, upper elementary school teachers;

Sunday, June 26, 2011 – Thursday, June 30, 2011, upper elementary school teachers; and

Sunday, July 10, 2011 – Thursday, July 14, 2011, middle school teachers and counselors.

Educators attending each of these sessions are selected in conjunction with Sally Ride Science and local administration from targeted school districts across the country.

The Sally Ride Science Academy is part of ExxonMobil’s investment in math and science education in the United States. The company supports numerous other initiatives that encourage students to take an active interest in careers in the math and science fields; support the professional development of highly qualified teachers and promote involvement of women and minorities students.

About Sally Ride Science
Sally Ride Science™ is an innovative science education company dedicated to supporting girls’ and boys’ interests in science, technology, engineering, and math. The company, founded by Dr. Sally Ride, creates programs (including Sally Ride Science Academy for teachers) and materials (including STEM career books) that bring science to life for students, their parents, and their teachers.

About ExxonMobil
Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide, of which $110 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.