Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2014
Julia Winer
Assistant Director of Communications
(860) 509-3666
jwiner@crec.org
National Science Teachers Association Selects CREC Teacher for
Competitive Science Fellowship
(Hartford, CT) The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) recently announced their Science Fellows for the
2013-2014 school year. Dr. Michelle Bellinger, science teacher at the CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering,
was one of two teachers chosen from Connecticut for this prestigious opportunity; the second was Stella Barth of the
Williams School in New London.
Selected from more than a thousand applications nationwide, the Fellows will participate in a host of science-related
activities and professional learning opportunities. The year-long program is designed to promote quality science
teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence, and improve teacher content knowledge. Each of
the 200 Fellows selected from more than 21 states and the District of Columbia receives NSTA membership, online
mentoring, and access to online training activities and seminars. Dr. Bellinger will also receive financial assistance to
participate in NSTA’s 2014 National Conference on Science Education in Boston.
“I am honored to have been given this exceptional opportunity as a Lockheed Martin-NSTA Science Fellow,” shared
Bellinger. “Teaching is an important endeavor that is complex and intellectually challenging, and I am fortunate to
be a part of this collaborative science community.”
The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy began in 2007 with a grant from the Amgen Foundation. Dr. Bellinger
will be one of the nearly 1,000 science teachers who have been afforded high-quality professional learning
opportunities through the program since its inception. Fellows were selected based on a solid science background
and their interest in growing as a professional science educator.
“The National Science Teachers Association congratulates the new science teachers who will join the Academy this
year,” said Dr. David Evans, executive director, NSTA. “The Academy Fellows are making a long-term commitment
to give their very best to their students – and to society, as they inspire the scientists and citizens of tomorrow.”
As science team leader and a faculty member of the physics and engineering team, Dr. Bellinger has already
asserted herself as a leader at the CREC Academy of Aerospace of Engineering. “As part of this program, I receive
professional development in such areas as Pedagogy, Science Literacy, Common Core State Standards, STEM,
Differentiated Instruction, Special Education, and Science Classroom Management,” said Bellinger. “This variety of
ongoing professional development will empower me to becoming a master teacher and leader in the field of STEM
education.”
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The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association 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 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives,
and others involved in science education.
Students at the CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering gain skills and experiences in science, technology,
Capitol Region Education Council
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engineering and mathematics (STEM) that prepare them for college and high-demand professional careers. Building on Greater
Hartford’s strong engineering, aerospace, and other STEM industries, the Academy provides students with unique, hands-on
professional experiences and the confidence to succeed. The ability to make connections between mathematics and science
empowers students with knowledge, intellectual curiosity and motivation that extend beyond the classroom.
The Capitol Region Education Council was established in 1966. Working with and for its member districts, CREC has
developed a wide array of cost-effective and high-quality programs and services to meet the educational needs of children and
adults in the region. CREC regularly serves 36 towns in Greater Hartford, offering more than 120 programs to more than
150,000 students annually. CREC manages more than 35 facilities throughout the area, including 19 interdistrict magnet
schools. More information about CREC or CREC’s award-winning Magnet Schools is available at www.crec.org
Dr. Michelle Bellinger, science teacher at the CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering was announced as a
2013-2014 Lockheed Martin-NSTA Science Fellow.
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