In 1999 the National Science Foundation began funding Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12). This program places graduate and advanced undergraduate students into K-12 schools as a part of their training in science. At SJU, this program involves Fellows in developing and teaching hands-on science in K-6 Philadelphia classrooms. Each year 4-6 M.S. students and two undergraduate juniors or seniors are selected for Fellowships. Graduate LINKS Fellows receive 10-month stipends of $18,000 and a full tuition scholarship. Undergraduate Fellows receive summer stipends of $5000, in addition to free University housing, and during the academic year they can also be paid up to $5000. To be eligible for the Fellowships, students must be involved in research in Biology or Environmental Science with a participating faculty member. Interested applicants can apply into the Biology Department Graduate Program and the LINKS fellowship at the same time. All NSF GK-12 Fellows must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.

The SJU GK-12 and LINKS program involves a partnership with the Wagner Free Institute of Science (WFIS) as well as the School District of Philadelphia. Fellows will work with WFIS children’s educators and elementary school teachers to develop and present science lessons to children in grades 1-6. The lessons are organized into semester-long units, generally with Environmental Science themes. Fellows and their SJU faculty mentors serve as content resources for the WFIS educators and the public school teachers, and they are role models and teachers for the children. WFIS educators and public school teachers help Fellows become familiar with pedagogical methods in K-6 education and with the special educational needs of urban minority children. The proposal abstract provides more details of the program. No prior experience with K-6 education is required, but reliability, flexibility, and a willingness to work as part of a multidisciplinary, multicultural team are necessary.

Fellows receive training during a workshop in August, and they are also involved in training sessions throughout the academic year. They meet weekly with the GK-12 director and at some meetings will be expected to lead discussions on topics relevant to their GK-12 activities. Fellows prepare documentation of lessons presented, develop instructional materials, and participate in ongoing assessment activities of the program. GK-12 guidelines require that Fellows spend at least 15 hours per week on their GK-12 duties, with at least 10 hrs in the classroom. For graduate Fellows, these duties replace the lab preparation and teaching duties normally performed as a part of paid assistantships.

We are currently accepting applications from Prospective Graduate LINKS Fellows
Prospective Fellows complete a Graduate Application Form as well as the LINKS Graduate Application Form.

For the 2010-2011 academic year, the application deadline is March 15, 2010.
For additional information contact Becky Mathers Lowery .

Prospective Undergraduate Fellows
Prospective undergraduate fellows must complete the GK-12 Undergraduate Application Form.

For additional information on applying for undergraduate fellowships, please contact Becky Mathers Lowery .