Two WCPSS Teachers Named Kenan Fellows
April 24, 2009 - Two WCPSS teachers have earned two-year fellowships with the Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development at NC State University.
Jason Wolfe of Enloe High and Justin Osterstrom of Combs Elementary were selected for the 2011 Class of Kenan Fellows and will work with university professors in research to develop math and science lessons for the classroom.
Jason Wolfe will work with mentor Dr. Bob Rose from NC State University. His project is entitled “Biotechnology and Biochemistry: Enriching Lab Experiences for Teachers and Students.” His fellowship is supported by the North Carolina STEM Initiative and NC State University.
Wolfe is a Biology / Genetics / Microbiology teacher at Enloe High. He was recently voted the “Most Caring” by students and has been a Conference and Regional Coach of the Year in soccer.
Justin Osterstrom will work with mentors Dr. Laura Bottomley and Liz Parry from NC State University. His project is entitled “Finding Solutions through Problem Solving Methods in Engineering.” His fellowship is supported by GlaxoSmithKline.
Osterstrom is a fifth-grade teacher at Combs Elementary. He was previously recognized as Wake County’s Beginning Teacher of the Year and has served on the Leadership Team at his school. He presented at the Magnet Schools of America Conference last year. He has appeared on teaching videos for Wake County Public Schools and the Franklin Covey organization.
As part of the two-year fellowship, Wolfe and Osterstrom will train to be master teachers, work closely with their mentors in developing projects, participate in research to develop inquiry-guided instruction to be used in the classroom, develop and distribute lessons statewide, talk with state leaders at events that promote the teaching profession, train to be a teacher leader and present findings at state and national conferences.
Kenan Fellow Program
The Kenan Fellows Program is an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science at NC State University. It is an innovative model to promote teacher leadership, address teacher retention and advance K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Kenan Fellows are public school teachers selected through a competitive process to participate in a prestigious two-year fellowship, all while remaining active in the classroom. Read more about the Kenan Fellows Program at www.kenanfellows.org.
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