Tina McKenzie has been named a Teacher Fellow in the 2016-2017 Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy. CONTRIBUTED

HARVEST – Tina McKenzie, a science teacher at Endeavor Elementary School, is one of only 25 science educators in the United States selected to participate as a Teacher Fellow in the 2016-2017 Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy.

The only teacher selected from Alabama, McKenzie will participate with 24 other educators in a number of science, engineering and technology-related activities and professional learning opportunities.

“We are excited to welcome our second class of Teachers Academy Fellows with Northrop Grumman Foundation,” Northrop Grumman executive Sandra Evers-Manly said. “These distinguished educators play a critical role in igniting the naturally inquisitive nature of today’s youth.”

“We hope that participation in the academy and the partnership with local Northrop Grumman sites will provide them with additional tools and resources needed to explore the exciting fields of STEM in their classrooms,” Evers-Manly said.

Matt Massey, Superintendent of Madison County Schools, praised McKenzie’s efforts. “She is very passionate about teaching our students. Ms. McKenzie is always looking for new ways to reach students and to grow their love and appreciation of STEM. We are very proud of her achievements.”

The award gives McKenzie the opportunity to broaden her STEM program and get her students even more engaged. “Now more than ever, we need to assist teachers in developing their industry-specific skills so that they feel more confident about their ability to lead lessons that go beyond content coverage,” Dr. David Evans said. Evans is Executive Director of the National Science Teachers Association.

As a Teacher Fellow, McKenzie can participate in a five-day workshop at a Northrop Grumman facility this summer and discuss teaching strategies for engineering design practices. She has been invited to the teacher association’s conference in Los Angeles on March 30 through April 2.

Fellows also can participate in an immersive, 80-hour externship at a local Northrop Grumman facility with an engineer or technologist partner.

Launched during the fall of 2015, the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy was established to help enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in STEM, while increasing teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce.

Based in Arlington, Va., National Science Teachers Association is among the world’s largest professional organizations and promotes excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning — preschool through college.

For a list of 2016-2017 Teacher Fellows, visit nsta.org/northropgrumman.