Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy

This summer, I spent a week in Jersey City for the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. You might be thinking…why the heck would you give up a week of your summer vacation for MORE professional development?! Don’t you already get enough throughout the year?! While my district does a fantastic job preparing us and training us in all sorts of great PD opportunities, I’ve NEVER been a part of something so great and so meaningful!

You’re probably wondering what the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is?? The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is the premiere STEM professional development! It’s a one-week all-expense-paid intensive professional development program for third- through fifth-grade teachers. Yup…ALL EXPENSES PAID! The Academy offers a five-day program designed to provide third- through fifth-grade teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to motivate students to pursue careers in science and math.

Phil and Amy Mickelson partnered up with ExxonMobil to develop the Academy with the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions. They wanted to develop a meaningful program that inspired teachers all over the country in math and science. Most importantly, they wanted to equip teachers with interactive teaching tools to ignite their students’ passion for STEM.

Two of the nation’s leading teacher-training organizations, Math Solutions Professional Development, founded by Marilyn Burns, and the National Science Teachers Association, designed the curriculum and taught the courses. The  instructors were FABULOUS! They work so hard to deepen teachers’ understanding of mathematics and science content. I couldn’t have asked for a more talented group of teachers to teach us!

If you’re thinking that this FANTASTIC and once in a lifetime opportunity sounds like something you’re interested in…APPLY HERE! Submissions must be made by Nov. 16th! A panel of teachers from the NTSA and the NCTM will review the applications and pick the participants.

Here are some snapshots of my trip to MEMTA 2014! 

Our view from the hotel! The Manhattan skyline was GORGEOUS!

Couldn’t get enough of this view from our room!

The Liberty Science Center was where our workshops were held everyday! Such an awesome science museum!

The view wasn’t too bad from our classrooms either ;)

Where else would you get to see a robot roaming around?! SO COOL!

You also get to meet Barbara Morgan, the first teacher to become an NASA astronaut!

This is a summer I’ll always remember! What are you waiting for? Apply now!