Beech Tree News Network

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all, in collaboration with The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, Amgen Foundation; Astellas Pharma US, Inc.; and the American Honda Foundation, today announced that Ashley Johnson, a science teacher at Butler County High School in Morgantown, Ky., was chosen from hundreds of applications nationwide to participate as an Amgen-NSTA Fellow in the 2011-2012 NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The only teacher selected from Kentucky, Johnson will participate with 214 other science teachers from across the country in a year-long professional development program designed to help promote quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence and improve teacher content knowledge.

“Now more than ever, we need to assist educators in developing their skills as teachers so that they can not only bolster student achievement, but feel confident and passionate about the vital work they do in helping to grow the pipeline of future science professionals,” said Dr. Francis Eberle, executive director, NSTA. “Each of these Fellows has expressed a strong desire to strengthen their knowledge and expand their professional growth so that they can better foster their students’ interest in science. We are extremely proud of this year’s group of Fellows and are grateful for their commitment to science education and to their students.”

The 2011-2012 Fellows were selected on the basis of several criteria, including showing evidence of a solid science background and displaying a strong interest in growing as a professional science educator. Each Fellow will receive a comprehensive NSTA membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars. In addition, each Fellow will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA’s 2012 National Conference on Science Education in Indianapolis

For this academic year, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, the primary sponsor of the program, will fund the participation of 156 science teachers as Dow-NSTA Fellows. The Amgen Foundation will support 39 science teachers as Amgen-NSTA Fellow and Astellas will support 13 science teachers primarily from the Chicago area as Astellas-NSTA Fellows. The Honda Foundation will support seven middle school science teachers as Honda-NSTA Fellows.

Launched during the spring of 2007, the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, co-founded by the Amgen Foundation, was established to help reduce the high attrition rate in the science teaching profession by providing professional development and mentoring support to early-career science teachers. Since its inception, the Academy has provided high-quality professional development to more than 600 science teachers nationwide.

For a list of the 2011-2012 Fellows or to learn more about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, please visit www.nsta.org/academy.

About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (www.nsta.org) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes approximately 60,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation (www.amgen.com/citizenship/overview.html) seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the Foundation has made more than $160 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways, and those that provide disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.

About Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and Science WoRx
The Astellas culture and brand is committed to building community, helping others, encouraging integrity and inspiring people to make a difference, today, tomorrow and every day. Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Deerfield, Illinois, is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please visit our website at www.astellas.us or follow us on Twitter (@AstellasUS).

Established in 2010, Science WoRx is a mentoring program and online resource network to support science teachers’ needs in and outside the classroom. Created by Astellas Pharma US, Inc., the program seeks to increase understanding of the role that science plays in human health and medicine, and to inspire the next generation of scientists.

About American Honda Foundation
Established in 1984, the American Honda Foundation (AHF) makes grants to non-profit organizations that benefit the people of the United States in the areas of youth and scientific education, with a specific focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment. AHF engages in grantmaking that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. Since its inception, more than $27 million has been awarded to organizations serving approximately 115 million people in virtually every state in the U.S.  For more information please visit http://www.foundation.honda.com.