STEM – Park Award
John C. Park Memorial Award for New Teachers
About John C. Park
John C. Park received his bachelor’s degree from Anderson College, and his master’s and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He was Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University where he taught science education for more than 25 years.
After his retirement from NC State, John was hired as Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he focused on building and expanding their undergraduate secondary science education program.
A leader by example, John dedicated his life to his family, his church, and to education. He created innovative ways of instilling others with the curiosity and desire to learn and positively impact the world around them.
Program Summary
The John C. Park Memorial Award for Science Teachers provides a science teacher in their first five years of teaching with funds to attend the annual NSTA National Conference on Science Education. Through the Taft Endowment in science education at East Carolina University, one science teacher in grades K-5 and one science teacher in grades 6-12 will be awarded each year beginning in 2018.
Award
The award consists of up to $1,500 to be used to attend the annual NSTA National Conference. The recipient will be invited to attend a variety of workshops and presentations that are of particular interest to new teachers at the annual National Conference. Awardees will be honored at the Teacher Awards Banquet held during the NSTA Conference.
Eligibility
To be eligible, a teacher must have taught less than five years as a full-time teacher at the time of the application and be an NSTA member in good standing.
Award Submission Requirements
- Prepare a 500-750 narrative describing a professional development plan for your attendance at the national conference. Based on the previous year’s national conference, specify sessions you would attend (if they are offered again) and how the experience gained would advance your learning and that of your students. (If these sessions are not offered at the national conference, similar sessions should be substituted in order to meet the requirements of conference attendance.)
- Resume
- Most recent undergraduate (and graduate) transcript (student unofficial is acceptable), diploma, or teaching certificate
- Letter of support from mentor or supervisor
- All correspondence must be in 12 point Times New Roman font
- Agree to present a summary of what you learned after the conference outlining your professional development experience in the fall semester following your NSTA experience. This presentation will be part of the Taft STEM Speaker Series.
Upon receipt, all applications become the property of NSTA. Applications will not be returned. Late or applications submitted by any other mechanism will not be accepted. Completed applications must be received by January 5, 2018.
Send Questions and/or your proposal to annettal16@ecu.edu