150 Attend Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy

 

Today, ExxonMobil announced 155 third- through fifth-grade teachers from across the United States have been selected to attend the national 2015 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. The program is a week-long, all-expense-paid, professional development program for third- through fifth-grade teachers that equips them with innovative ways to teach science and math and inspire their students in these critical subjects.

In 2005, ExxonMobil partnered with PGA Golfer Phil Mickelson, and his wife, Amy, to launch the Academy. Today, more than 4,500 teachers have been trained on effective math and science teaching techniques, impacting more than 300,000 students nationwide.

“Amy and I understand firsthand the influence teachers have on students,” Phil Mickelson said. “We are excited to see not only the initial inspiration that comes from the Academy week, but also the additional activity from classrooms when teachers apply what they’ve learned to help their students understand, engage and truly be inspired about STEM subjects.”

More than 1,500 teachers submitted applications through www.sendmyteacher.com to attend the 2015 Academy at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey from July 27-31. From this group, 155 teachers were selected -- representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- based on their qualifications, dedication to inspiring students at an early age and overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession. View the full list of teachers selected here.

Recent test scores from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rank the U.S. 21st in science and 26th in math when compared to other OECD nations. The Business Center for a College- and Career-Ready America also reports that almost all of the 30 fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will require at least some STEM background. As a company with more than 18,000 scientists and engineers, ExxonMobil recognizes the need to ignite passion in today’s youth around STEM and prepare them to pursue related careers.

“ExxonMobil values the importance of instilling today’s students with a strong foundation in math and science, and we know teachers play a vital role in directly shaping student aptitude—and attitude—in these subjects,” said Suzanne McCarron, general manager of public and government affairs, ExxonMobil. “Through partnerships like the one we have built with the Mickelsons, we’re not only bringing a continued awareness to the importance and effectiveness of STEM teacher training, we’re also providing a professional development program that helps lay the groundwork for teachers to prepare students for future careers in the STEM field.”

During the week-long Academy, participants will work with a curriculum developed by the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions. After the program, teachers will return to their classrooms reinvigorated with the passion to teach students how to be science literate, using hands-on experiments that show how math and science surround us daily.

“Participating in the hands-on experiments at the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy gave me new and effective skills to ignite a passion for STEM in my students,” said Emily Maki, an Illinois teacher who attended the Academy in 2014. “The Academy helped me renew my confidence in teaching science and math, and it’s been rewarding to see how my students have engaged with my lessons.”

An additional 350 teachers chosen from communities around the country near where ExxonMobil maintains significant operations will be attending regional academies this summer in Houston, TX, and Pittsburgh, PA.

Since 2005, the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy has provided more than 117,200 hours of math and science training to teachers from across the United States.