The foundation’s signature program, the KSTF Teaching Fellows Program, awards Fellowships to early-career science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers. KSTF Teaching Fellowships are awarded based on three criteria: the potential to develop thecontent knowledge needed for teaching, the potential to develop exemplary teaching practices, and the potential to develop the qualities of a teacher leader. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to develop in each of these areas in order to be selected. Once selected, Teaching Fellows focus on growth in these areas over the three phases of the program.
Teaching Fellows receive a summer stipend and are eligible for a number of grants throughout the year. Professional development grants valued at up to $4,000 per year are available to cover the cost of relevant activities, including workshops, mentoring, practitioner inquiry and Fellow observations. Fellows are also eligible to receive up to $1,200 per year for teaching materials. Last, Fellows can apply for leadership grants to pursue efforts that will have a positive impact on STEM education beyond their own classroom
Specific Eligibility Criteria
KSTF Teaching Fellowships are intended to support beginning high school STEM teachers in the United States. Fellows are chosen from among individuals who:
- Are committed to teaching a STEM subject (e.g., science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics) in the U.S., in grades 9-12;
- Have earned, or will have earned by September, a degree in a discipline related to the STEM subject(s) they intend to teach;
- Have outstanding current content knowledge with recent formal education in the STEM subject(s) they intend to teach (typically within the last 5–10 years);
- Have the capacity and determination to commit to teaching as their career;
- Will have a valid state teaching credential/certificate/license that enables them to teach grades 9-12 in the United States by September that was not awarded before January 1, 2019; and
- Have no more than 1 year of teaching experience (as the teacher of record) as of September.