Fourth-year Education student Katey Shirey has been awarded one of 13 science fellowships granted by the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation for 2006.
The fellowship is renewable for five years and is worth up to $100,000 over that period. This money can be put toward the tuition for Shirey's final year in the Curry School of Education. The program also offers professional development opportunities and electronic discussion boards for use by other fellowship winners.
"The idea of the program is to encourage and sustain beginning science and math teachers who have exceptional content knowledge, have had experience working with adolescents and show exceptional ability and promise in becoming a high school science or math teacher," said Roseanne Rostock, program officer for sciences in the Knowles Foundation.
The selection process for the prestigious fellowship is rigorous, including a written application process, telephone interview, a two-day interview weekend with an interview panel and informal meetings with the organizers of the foundation.
Shirey's background is unusual for a science teacher--she has undergraduate degrees in both physics and art.
"Her background in physics and art is an interesting combination that makes her stand out and is reflected in her creative spirit and enthusiasm for science and her goal for sharing what she knows about science with other students," Science Education Prof. Randy Bell said.
Shirey said her background has helped shape the way she teaches.
"I think about how artists can look outside the known and parameters of what is traditional; scientists do the same thing," Shirey said. "I'm trying to relate the two, and use art as a motivation--it can be very captivating for students to learn about art. I used to make sculptures to show examples in physics."
The University has had four winners of the fellowship in the past three years. According to Bell, the success of the program could be attributed to the Education School's teaching methods for science education.
"In our program, we really emphasize teaching science as a way of knowing and try to emphasize the process and nature of science," Bell said. "Katey has really embraced that, which could be a factor in her winning the fellowship."
Shirey agreed that her teaching methods were influenced by the Education School's unique curriculum.
"The program at U.Va. is really at the forefront of teacher education, and uses a high emphasis on scientific inquiry," she said.
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