Tyler Hill Awarded Knowles Teaching Fellowship

Tyler Hill

Congratulations to Tyler Hill, a former NAUTeach student who has been chosen by the Knowles Teacher Initiative as a member of its 2017 Cohort of Teaching Fellows. This year, 37 promising high school mathematics and science teachers who are just beginning their careers were awarded Knowles Teaching Fellowships.

Tyler will begin his second year of teaching at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, AZ, this fall. Tyler earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Northern Arizona University in 2016.

"My time at NAU shaped me into the educator that I have become and I am grateful for all of the NAUTeach professors that put their heart and soul into the program. It was truly their dedication and passion that helped prepare myself and the rest of the future educators for the rigors of the profession. A special thank you goes out to Dr. Danielle Ross who showed faith in me and encouraged me every step of the way during the very strenuous application process. This fellowship will shape my career and I am so incredibly thankful for the encouraging words to apply. The structure of NAUTeach really emphasized the importance of inquiry and student-centered classrooms. These ideologies that I learned in the program helped me succeed in achieving the Knowles fellowship. Science education in this country needs a greater focus on problem-solving and real world applicability. This is exactly what the Knowles fellowship looks for; teachers who want to transform mathematics and science education in this country. Without NAU and NAUTeach, I might not have found a passion for students and showing them how relatable science can be in their everyday lives. It is my hope with this fellowship that I can make high school science more accessible for all learners while inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals."
 
Tyler student-taught at Flagstaff High School in the Spring of 2016. "I loved my semester at FHS and consider myself extremely lucky to have been able to learn from the veteran teachers there. Flagstaff High School gave me my first taste of true classroom experience and that too helped prepare me in achieving the Knowles Fellowship. The classroom management strategies that I learned and the students that pushed me to be a better teacher all aided me in growing as an educator. I am so thankful for my time in Flagstaff and all of the opportunities that it has given me for my career."

KSTF, now the Knowles Teacher Initiative, is committed to supporting a national network of mathematics and science teachers in building leadership and collaboration, facilitating exploration and innovation, and ultimately improving mathematics and science education in the U.S. The Knowles Teaching Fellows Program—the Foundation’s signature program—is a comprehensive, five-year program that supports early-career, high school mathematics and science teachers in their efforts to develop teaching expertise and lead from the classroom. Through the program, Knowles Fellows have access to grants for expenses associated with purchasing classroom materials, engaging in professional development, and spearheading leadership activities that have an impact beyond their own classrooms. Fellows also benefit from access to stipends, mentoring and coaching from experienced teachers and teacher educators, and membership in a nationwide community of more than 300 teachers who are committed to improving education.