An advocate for beginning teachers and the teaching profession, the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (www.kstf.org) awards five-year fellowships to exceptional STEM teachers during the pivotal early years of their careers. KSTF advocates for best new teachers through the media by putting the spotlight on successful teacher practices and advancing the national dialogue about the importance of keeping talented teachers in the profession. One of the key program objectives in 2012-13 was to involve KSTF teachers in the PR and marketing effort as education leaders and advocates, and as local and national media ambassadors.<\/p>\r\n
The team works with KSTF Fellows and alumni nationwide to promote their innovative work in STEM education. We have invited scores of reporters to visit KSTF math and science classrooms from New York to California to tell a powerful story of KSTF, its teachers and the transformative effect on students. When KSTF named its new Teaching Fellows, we mounted an aggressive media relations campaign celebrating these aspiring beginning teachers. At the same time, op-ed pieces and national media interviews with KSTF staff helped put teacher preparation and retention in the larger context of jobs, the economy and our nation’s future.<\/p>\r\n
As part of the integrated communications program, the team maintained a comprehensive KSTF site, www.kstf.org. To capture the spirit of KSTF Fellows, we produced videos to use in broad communications outreach, including press, social media, recruitment and advocacy. The program includes a recruitment effort and we regularly work with KSTF Fellows and alumni to incorporate their testimonials into outreach to teacher education programs and top-tier colleges and universities nationwide.<\/p>\r\n
In 2012, KSTF’s campaign reached an audience of 201,760,395 million people, a 28 percent increase over the previous year. Fully 77 percent of the 191 print, online and broadcast media placements were feature stories, helping change media and public attitudes towards teachers. One hundred percent of newly inducted 2012 KSTF Fellows were profiled in the media, while 74 percent of stories featured quotes from KSTF Fellows and alumni. Coverage highlights include Bloomberg Radio, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and The Seattle Times.<\/p>\r\n
The swell of positive stories has had an impact on the Fellows’ attitude towards their profession and their place in the classroom. Today, KSTF’s retention rate is at an astounding 95 percent, almost double that of the 50 percent national retention rate for secondary teachers nationwide.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>"}}