Science Education

Application Deadline:  TBD

The Career Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers is a five-year award available to outstanding science or mathematics teachers in the North Carolina public primary and secondary schools. The purpose of this award is to recognize teachers who have demonstrated solid knowledge of science or mathematics content and have outstanding performance records in educating children. This five-year award presents opportunities for professional development and collaboration with other master science or mathematics teachers who will help to ensure their success as teachers and their satisfaction with the field of teaching. Special consideration will be given to teachers working in hard to staff, economically deprived classrooms in North Carolina. The award also offers schools and school districts the opportunity to fully develop teachers as leaders in the field.

Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers provide $175,000 over a period of five years ($35,000 per year) to eligible teachers in the North Carolina public school system.  BWF will support five awards with annual installments as allocated below.

Teacher Salary

• $10,000 stipend will be provided to supplement the teacher’s annual salary or for fringe benefits, such as retirement or insurance.

• $5,000 will be contributed annually to an annuity or savings account to be given to the teacher at the conclusion of the five-year award.

• The State Board of Education will provide extra salary support to ensure that award recipients will receive a 12-month contract.  The Department of Public Instruction will send these funds to the appropriate LEA beginning July 1 of each year.

School or School District

• $10,000 may be used to purchase needed equipment and supplies for that teacher’s classroom or laboratory or be shared with the teacher’s school or school district.

Professional Development

• $10,000 may be used at the discretion of the teacher for professional development activities, travel and registration to meetings or conferences, hiring substitutes, networking with colleagues, and capacity building opportunities at the school or school district.

The application must include a budget outlining how these funds will be expended and must include the principal’s signature to support the proposed allocation of funds. Career Award grants will be payable to the recipient’s school, and recipients are expected to comply with all personal tax obligations.

For teachers at the middle school and high school levels, each Career Award recipient is required to commit to teaching science or mathematics courses (at least 70 percent of time) for the duration of the five-year term. For teachers at the elementary school level, each award recipient is required to serve as a “go to” teacher in science or mathematics for the duration of the five-year award at their school. The award is flexible in allowing teachers to reach beyond their school into the school district to build bridges, stimulate collective learning, and develop strategies to build their own capacity as a teacher, as well as the capacity of their school, district, or region.