American Fidelity’s AF Teacher Fellowship summer program is open to all third-grade through senior high teachers interested in incorporating more STEM education in their classes. Applications are due by Feb. 25. (Photo by Jeswin Thomas via Unsplash)
Workers in most fields increasingly must be able to use technology to do their jobs.
Studies conducted by Burning Glass Technologies for Capital One show 82% of middle-skills jobs – those where workers need more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree – require digital literacy in everyday software.
The growing need for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education can be challenging for teachers trying to prepare their students for the future job market.
“Technology can be scary for some teachers,” said Diana Bittle, vice president for information technology at American Fidelity Assurance Co. That’s why the company launched its AF Teacher Fellowship program five years ago. STEM teachers in grades 3-12 can earn $30 an hour over the summer while learning IT and other technology skills to benefit their classrooms. The fellowship also comes with a $2,000 classroom stipend.
Bittle got the idea for the program when she saw a social media post about how much money her high school debate coach was spending to subsidize the program for his students. Other teachers were buying paper, pencils and other supplies for their classrooms.
Fellows who complete the summer program can use the $2,000 to buy whatever their students need whether that’s an online learning platform or backpacks.
“It gives teachers relief, but it also helps us with our (workforce) pipeline,” Bittle said. “The teachers are teaching our future employees.”
Fellows work in American Fidelity’s software development, IT security, data or technical infrastructure areas learning about a wide variety of topic. The staff also helps them with curriculum development and are available as a resource for teachers after the fellowship ends.
“It really opened my eyes to the new avenues in technology that I didn’t even realize existed,” said Shawnee Public Schools teacher Whitney Gonzales, a 2021 AF Teacher Fellow. “It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in a summer activity that I’ve ever done.”
A self-described math nerd, Bittle credits “truly amazing math teachers” she had with stoking the fires that led to her success. “I’m all about math. I love it because I had great teachers.”
The goal is for AF Fellow to instill in their students an interest in STEM and keep the passion going.
“The pandemic exploded the need for technology,” Bittle said. “We just want to help teachers in as many ways as we can but it’s also good for Oklahoma.”
Her hope is other companies will do the same because the need is so great and American Fidelity routinely gets four to five applicants for each fellowship. In the first four years, 37 teachers completed the program.
The 2022 class begins on June 6 and will expand to 15 teachers, the largest class to date. Interested teachers can find more information and apply at https://americanfidelity.com/teacher-fellowship.
Applications are open to any teacher in third- through 12th-grade and are due by Feb. 25.
