What can a simple egg drop teach a group of elementary school teachers about force and motion? How can rolling marbles down tables illustrate the impact mass has on movement? This summer, 500 teachers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will learn the answers to these questions and more, as they attend the 10th-annual Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy held in Jersey City, NJ, Pittsburgh, PA, and Houston, TX.
The Academy, a partnership between PGA golfer Phil Mickelson, his wife Amy, and ExxonMobil, is an intensive, one-week, all-expenses-paid professional development program that shows teachers how to put a fresh spin on classic math and science concepts using fun, hands-on experiments. Teachers leave the Academy equipped with new lessons, ready to encourage a lifelong love of STEM—science, technology, engineering and math. Since its inception, more than 4,100 teachers have been trained at the Academy, impacting the lives of more than 290,000 students nationwide.
“The Academy gave me the skills and confidence needed to inspire students to become interested in science and math,” said Zohar Badenhausen, a teacher from Massachusetts who attended the Academy in 2013. “Using the real-world ideas and skills from the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, I have been able to engage and excite my students, spurring a new found and energized interest in STEM.”
Mickelson frequently talks about the importance of science in golf, using calculations of force, motion, angles and distance to excel at the game. “Amy and I are extremely proud of this Academy milestone, and one of the highlights of our summer is visiting with and seeing first-hand the impact this program has made on teachers across the country,” he said. “We know interest in STEM subjects starts at an early age, and we’re committed to training teachers to ignite a lifelong learning for these important subjects.”
In the 10 years that the Academy has been supporting teachers in math and science training, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs for aerospace engineers increased by 112 percent, civil engineers increased by 60 percent and chemical engineers increased by 37 percent. Studies show that eight of the 10 fastest-growing job sectors require math and science skills.
“Through innovative learning techniques, the Academy equips teachers with the tools and strategies to increase their students’ interest and excitement about math and science, helping to develop future scientists and engineers,” said Suzanne McCarron, Exxon Mobil Corporation’s general manager of public and government affairs.
The Academy also announced today the names of the 150 teachers selected to attend the national Academy in Jersey City, NJ. Teachers were selected by a panel of educators from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Science Teachers Association from more than 1,000 applications submitted through www.sendmyteacher.com. Teachers were chosen based on their qualifications, dedication to inspiring students at an early age and overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession. The additional 350 teachers are selected in conjunction with their local school districts and will be attending Academies in Houston and Pittsburgh.
For the list of teachers selected to attend the national 2014 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, visit www.sendmyteacher.com. The application process for the 2015 Academy opens today.
The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is part of ExxonMobil’s long-term commitment to education. The company supports initiatives that encourage students to take an active interest in math and science careers, support the professional development of highly qualified teachers and promote involvement by women and minority students.
