OFE News Release
Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Extends Scholarship Deadline for Math and Science Teachers in OKC
November 10 , 2005
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Math and science teachers in the greater Oklahoma City area must apply by Nov. 18 to be eligible for professional development scholarships administered by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, a nonprofit organization that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools.
Teacher Scholarships for Professional Development are designed to enhance educational opportunities for students by allowing teachers to attend top-quality regional, national and international workshops and institutes in their chosen fields. The scholarships help cover the costs of tuition, transportation, lodging and, if necessary, the expense of hiring a substitute teacher.
Scholarships will be awarded this December for teacher conferences and institutes scheduled in the spring semester or summer of 2006. Applications are available on the Foundation for Excellence web site or by contacting the foundation office at (405) 236-0006. Applications must be recieved by Nov. 18, 2005.
“Researchers have found that teacher ability is a stronger determinant of student achievement than a student’s economic standing, race or parents’ educational attainment,” said Emily Stratton, executive director of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. “Providing quality professional development opportunities to Oklahoma’s teachers is critical to the success of Oklahoma’s students.”
The Foundation for Excellence launched its Teacher Scholarships for Professional Development in spring 2003. Since then, 79 scholarship recipients have attended professional development offerings in such areas as reading, fine arts, English, mathematics, science and special education.
Scholarship recipient Donna Smith, a teacher at Ada STEPS Alternative Academy, said opportunities for quality professional development at the national level are rare because of tight school budgets. “This scholarship gave me the opportunity to attend three days of non-stop, informative, hands-on workshops and lectures, as well as network with other math teachers from across the nation,” she said. “I returned to school eager to try out the new strategies and activities that I learned.”
Scholarship applicants must currently be employed as an elementary or secondary teacher in an Oklahoma public school. They must also have at least two years of teaching experience in Oklahoma prior to the conference or meeting for which the scholarship will be used. Each application requires a statement of support from the applicant’s principal, superintendent and school board president.
Applicants may apply for scholarships in one of six categories: for teachers who work in Title I schools with 50 percent or more students at or below poverty level; for Kenneth R. & Juliette Woodward Teacher Scholarships available to teachers in Duncan or Stephens County; for the Audre’ L. Henry Scholarship for special education teachers; for math and science teachers in the greater Oklahoma City area; for teachers in Tulsa County; for non-restricted scholarships. R ecipients will be selected by a committee composed of Medal for Excellence award-winning educators.
Offered for its third year is the Audre’ L. Henry Scholarship for Special Education Teachers. This scholarship was established through memorial gifts made to the Foundation for Excellence in honor of Gov. Brad Henry’s mother, a former special education teacher and school administrator, who died in July 2003.
Teacher Scholarships for Professional Development are also made possible through support from IBC Bank; Boeing Co. of Oklahoma City; Kenneth and Juliette Woodward of Duncan; the Grace and Franklin Bernsen Foundation, the Hille Foundation and the Temple Foundation, all of Tulsa. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence also administers a memorial and honorary gifts program benefiting its Teacher Scholarship Fund.
For more information or to learn about giving opportunities to the Teacher Scholarship Fund, contact the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence at (405) 236-0006 or visit the foundation’s web site at www.ofe.org