STEM UPDATE: Davie County is bringing engaging curriculum with cutting edge science & real world relevance into Davie County’s elementary, middle school, high school and early college classrooms!
Four Davie County teachers have been named to the Class of 2012 Kenan Fellows.
The Kenan Fellows Program energizes school curriculum and promotes teacher leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by pairing selected teachers with industry mentors.
4 Davie County Teachers and Their Mentors
Davie County High School teacher, Elizabeth Bustle will focus on “STEM and Lean Manufacturing” with mentors Jerry Lakey and Lewis Anderson from the Ingersoll Rand “manufacturing center of excellence” in Mocksville.
Marty Creech, a teacher at North Davie Middle School will focus on “Innovations in Healthcare” with mentors Allyson Komaschka and Anita Pulley from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Diane Ireland, a teacher at William R. Davie Elementary School will focus on “Logistics: More than Trucks and Trains” with mentors Dave Hauser and Kathleen Patterson from the North Carolina Center for Global Logistics.
Denise Absher, a teacher from the Davie County Early College High School will focus on “Teachers Training Teachers” with mentor Heather Mullins from the NC Department of Public Instruction.
Engaging Curriculum with Cutting Edge Science & Real World Relevance
Precision manufacturing, health care and logistics are all engines of economic growth that will provide jobs and opportunities in Davie County as the North Carolina economy continues transitioning from furniture, textiles and tobacco to high tech.
The industry mentors will help open the door to the “real enterprise” of scientific research for K-12 teachers and students. The Mentors provides support for the Kenan Fellows throughout the fellowship, sharing insight into his or her work through discussion, collaboration and observation, and consulting on the development of the Fellow‟s curriculum project.
The curriculum project is a joint effort between the Fellow and Mentor. The Mentor provides up-to-date scientific expertise and knowledge based on his or her research and the project profile. The Fellow ensures that the project is age appropriate, educationally sound and supports the NC Standard Course of Study. Together, the team works to produce new lessons that are relevant and engaging, and that bring the excitement of cutting-edge science into the classroom.
The Mentor will become familiar with the teacher‟s work by visiting the classroom to present or co-teach, and will participate in Fireside Chats and other Fellowship events. Participation in the program provides Mentors with the opportunity to contribute to the depth and relevance of instruction at the K-12 level.
The Kenan Fellows Program is an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science, and is generously supported by funding from business, government, foundations, research grants, and individual partners. The mission of the Kenan Fellows Program is to enhance curriculum relevance for the benefit of all students; engage teachers, business, and universities through unique professional collaboration; and promote growth opportunities for teachers and the teaching profession.
The Davie County 2012 Kenan Fellows are being sponsored by Ingersoll Rand, The Mebane Foundation, Wake Forest University Baptist Health and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Additional Resources:
Davie County STEM Education ~ Leading The Way
Kenan Fellows Program
The Mebane Charitable Foundation
Ingersoll Rand
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Davie County Schools
