Erika Mitkus Wins Prestigious STEM Teaching Fellowship

The program is divided into three phases. During Phase 1 (years 1 & 2), fellows focus on developing specialized content knowledge in their chosen field and on building supportive relationships within their cohort. During Phase 2 (years 3 & 4), the fellows will emphasize learning how to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching, the culture of their classroom, and student learning, all while building stronger cooperative ties with colleagues in their individual schools. Finally, during third phase (year 5), the fellowship will shift focus to understanding each teacher’s professional context and working on ways to lead and to effect change in their schools and communities.

A recent recipient of a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Erika is in her first year of teaching at Sanford. She views science education as a “dynamic, creative subject that could be full of student voices and contributions” and hopes to incorporate teaching about “social justice issues in the context of biology.”

As a 2016 KSTF Fellow, Erika will benefit from mentoring and coaching, a national support network of science teachers, professional development opportunities, grants, and stipends as she develops as a new teacher. Congratulations to Erika, and welcome to the Sanford community!