STEM Professional Development
Workshops
Our professional development workshops address a wide range of STEM topics for educators in Grades Pre-K to 12, as well as, subjects for high school counselors, such as building a college going culture; mental health and the college search, Financial Aid 101; and data-driven college counseling. Many workshops provide Act 48 and Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) credits.
Contact: info@philaedfund.org
Research shows that the most important factor in student learning is a highly effective classroom teacher.
Teaching Fellows Program
PEF’s McKinney Center for STEM Education Teaching Fellows Program, sponsored by PECO, is an intensive—and fun—professional development series designed for Philadelphia K-8 public school teachers seeking to grow the STEM literacy of their students.
Participants attend workshops and complete capstone projects: designing engaging STEM lesson plans to implement in the classroom. They receive assistance implementing capstone projects, a stipend, and earn Act 48 credits.
Education Partnerships
PEF’s McKinney Center for STEM Education partners with Out-of-School Time education providers to expand opportunities for teacher professional development. A recent example in PEF’s portfolio is a workshop series at the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center:
Summer Workshop Series
- Science is My Specialty
- Simply Science
- Careers in STEM, held at the Philadelphia Water Works
- Science in the Summer, held at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, with Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Participants attended free-of-charge. Eligible in-school educators received Act 48 credits, and non-classroom educators received PQAS Credits.
Teacher in the Workplace
Funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, Teacher in the Workplace introduces educators to the content knowledge and skill sets needed for a variety of STEM occupations through an immersive workplace experience. Teachers participate free of charge and earn Act 48 credits.
