WWNFF

2016 Class of WW Indiana Teaching Fellows Announced

Indiana Continues Efforts to Strengthen Schools by Focusing on Strong Pipeline of Excellent STEM Teachers

Newly Announced Class of Indiana Teaching Fellows Continues State Commitment to Ensure Exemplary Educators for State’s High-Need Schools

PRINCETON, NJ (July 12, 2016)—Continuing a promise the State of Indiana made eight years ago to recruit, prepare, and support excellent teachers for the students who need them most, five Indiana universities today welcomed the 2016–17 class of Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows, the latest group of aspiring teachers seeking successful careers in the state’s high-need urban and rural schools.

The Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows program is part of a statewide effort to prepare excellent science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers for careers in Indiana’s high-need schools.

Forty-three individuals will be part of the 2016 cohort of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program in the state, offered at Ball State University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Purdue University, University of Indianapolis, and Valparaiso University. The highly competitive program recruits both recent graduates and career changers with strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math—the STEM fields—and prepares them specifically to teach in high-need secondary schools.

“Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows are the future of teaching in Indiana, and we are proud to welcome these 43 teachers into this important effort,” Woodrow Wilson President Arthur Levine said. “Across the nation, states are using the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship to transform their teacher education programs to meet the needs of the 21st-century classroom. That work, and that model, began in Indiana.”

The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship focuses on preparing top-quality educators for many of Indiana’s most underserved public schools. Each Fellow receives $32,000 to complete a specially designed, cutting-edge master’s degree program based on a yearlong classroom experience. In return, Fellows commit to teach for three years in the urban and rural Indiana schools that most need strong STEM teachers. Throughout the three-year commitment, Fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring.

“Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows embody commitment, excellence, and success here in the Hoosier State,” Levine said, noting that Indiana Teaching Fellows are 1.9 times more likely to remain teachers in Indiana’s public high-need schools, compared to non-Fellow teachers. “With Indiana Teaching Fellows currently serving as teachers of record in nearly half of Indiana’s 92 counties, these Woodrow Wilson Fellows are having a meaningful, positive impact on thousands of Indiana students, and they will continue to change lives for years to come.”

Ninety percent of Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows have earned certification in a STEM field, compared to just 20 percent of non-Fellow peers in the state.

The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship partners with a wide range of schools across the state, including Anderson Community School Corporation, Fort Wayne Community Schools, Gary Community School Corporation, Indianapolis Public Schools, Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, Metropolitan School District of Perry Township, Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, Michigan City Area Schools, Muncie Community Schools, Portage Township Schools, Purdue University Rural School Network, School City of East Chicago, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy, Kankakee Valley School Corporation, and Merrillville Community School Corporation. It also works with charter schools such as Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, Christel House Academy, Herron High School, Lighthouse Academies, and Indianapolis Metropolitan High School.

This is the eighth year of the program, which the Woodrow Wilson Foundation administers through the generous financial support of Lilly Endowment Inc., and the Indiana STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund Grant program. Indiana is one of five states that has offered the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship, along with Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio. More information on the national program can be found at: http://woodrow.org/fellowships/ww-teaching-fellowships.

###

About the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

Founded in 1945, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (www.woodrow.org) identifies and develops the nation’s best minds to meet its most critical challenges. The Foundation supports its Fellows as the next generation of leaders shaping American society.

 

The 2016-17 Class of Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows includes:

Ball State University

  • Gregory Cepluch
  • Jessica Fromholz-Smith
  • Betsy Lange
  • Alexander Lantz
  • Kory Pritchett
  • Cassidy Richard
  • Kirk Schilling
  • Kristian Stephens

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

  • Molly Bain
  • Paige Ballew
  • Amanda Bierhorst
  • Kelly Biro
  • Callie Bissell
  • Camille Cousins
  • Kristen Rhoads
  • Lauren Sercer
  • Cynthia Wassall

Purdue University

  • Amir Ahmadi
  • Stephanie Biery
  • Caroline Gregerson
  • Michael Gruesbeck
  • Catherin Hayt
  • Jennifer Michie
  • Jonah Polley
  • Kyle Schulz

University of Indianapolis

  • Brandi Dennis
  • Melissa Fowler
  • Lucas Kemling
  • Melissa Miller Newcomb
  • Brian Price
  • Brian Rappoport
  • Aaron Van Y
  • Emily Weigand
  • Morgan Williams
  • Shatara Williams

Valparaiso University

  • Nicole Beaver
  • Madison Beatty
  • Matt Boyd
  • Dave Cutchin
  • Marsha Jordan
  • Andrew Kuck
  • Ricardo Ramos
  • Michael Sterling

Close

Looking for Fellowship Applications?

Fellowship applications and opportunities can now be found on our new website, citizensandscholars.org.

Visit Now

Get More Info

To sign up for more information about a specific program, click here.

To receive the Woodrow Wilson newsletter, complete these fields:

If you want a hard copy, enter your preferred mailing address here: