Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) Fellowship

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Program Purpose: 

Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowships meet the support and mentoring needs of beginning high school science and mathematics teachers as they earn a teaching credential and through the early years of their career. The program reduces the sense of isolation that contributes to nearly half of U.S. secondary teachers leaving the profession.

Program Description: 

PHYSICAL SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, and BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TEACHING FELLOWS are supported financially and professionally as they progress through a teacher preparation program to tenure eligibility. During the 5 year program, fellows develop into a community of high school science and mathematics teaching scholars – confident in their teaching abilities, able to support one another, and ready to act as leaders in science and mathematics education. During the 1st year, fellows typically participate in a recognized teacher credentialing program. In the following 4 years, as they begin teaching careers, fellows continue to receive training and support through professional meetings and development activities, local mentorship, and meetings each term and over the summer with other Fellows.

Program Benefits: 

Fellows who are full-time students working toward a teaching credential receive up to $10,000 in annual tuition assistance, plus a monthly stipend. Additional tuition support is available for summer coursework leading to a credential. Full-time teachers are eligible for small grants supplying classroom materials and support for a mentor-teacher relationship. All fellows receive funding for summer professional development and summer living stipends. KSTF also supports membership in a professional organization and travel to professional meetings.

Applicant Profile: 

KSTF Teaching Fellows are young women and men who have received a bachelor's or advanced degree in science, engineering, or mathematics (or an MAT or Med) within the last 5 years and are committed to becoming outstanding teachers of high school science or mathematics in US schools. The Fellowship is intended to attract individuals with strong mathematics or science backgrounds: those with no formal education coursework or experience in teaching are encouraged to apply. Applicants to BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TEACHING FELLOWSHIP should have an understanding of contemporary biology such as system biology, mathematical, or model-based biology including bioinformatics and computational biology, and be committed to changing content and instructional focus of high school biology.

Eligibility: 

Graduating seniors, graduating master's and doctoral students in a biological or physical science, mathematics or engineering, and alumni five years out from a degree in these fields. Candidates for these fellowships must be enrolled or enroll in a secondary teacher credential program before the fellowship is awarded. Also eligible are those who at the start of the fellowship will have completed the 4th of a 5-year combined bachelor's and credential program, those currently enrolled in a teacher education program who will be 1st year teachers, and those not yet certified and in the 1st year of teaching.

Citizenship: 

U.S. citizenship is not required but applicant but must be committed to teaching in U.S. high schools.

Program Deadline: 

Usually early January.

How To Apply: 

Students or alumni, as applicable, may apply directly to this program. Applicants are encouraged, however, to work with SF State's fellowship advisor well in advance of the program deadline to perfect their application essays and other materials.