STATEHOUSE-Rep. Woody Burton (R-Greenwood) announced today that a Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship has been awarded to a resident from District 58. Ashley Westra of Greenwood was among the 59 teaching fellows selected to begin work this summer on master's degrees to prepare for math and science teaching positions in the state's high-need urban and rural schools. They will teach in Indiana for at least three years.
"I consider it an honor to have Hoosier teachers be a part of such an innovative program that will enhance the learning of so many students across the state," said Rep. Burton. "The teachers chosen really are the best of the best, and I hope this program will bring extraordinary changes to our schools." The Woodrow Wilson Foundation selected Indiana in December 2007 as the first site for its new national fellowship for high school teachers. The program is intended to help teacher education and encourage exceptionally able teacher candidates to seek long-term careers teaching science, technology, and math in high-need classrooms. The program also seeks to cut teacher attrition and retain top teachers. Each recipient receives a $30,000 stipend to complete a master's program at Ball State University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Purdue University or the University of Indianapolis. Fellows are then placed in a high-need urban or rural school and will continue to receive mentoring.
The announcement came after more than a year of planning and development with the participating Indiana universities and their partnering school districts, as well as a rigorous seven-month application and selection process. The program attracted more than 300 applicants from around Indiana.
The next round of applications in Indiana is expected to open in summer 2009.
A fellowship fact sheet is available online: http://www.woodrow.org/images/pdf/newsitem/WW_Indiana_TeachingFellows_factsheet09.pdf.
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