Application Materials

• An online application form 
• A recommendation form submitted by a school administrator. The application asks for the contact information for your recommender, so the form can be emailed directly to that individual. The recommender cannot be a family member. 

Program Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen 
• Must teach high school (9^th-12^th grade) in a designated Appalachian County
• Must plan to teach math, science, engineering, and/or technology (e.g. web design, computer programming) in the ninth grade or higher in a school in a designated Appalachian County for the 2025-2026 school year 
• Must be willing to follow all program and safety instruction 
• Must be able to participate in all program activities for the full program period, July 5-18, 2025 

About the Program

The Appalachian STEM Academy will allow 26 high school teachers to participate in collaborative research at ORNL, a world-class research facility. Mentored by ORNL researchers and facilitators on research projects, teachers will strengthen and broaden their scientific and content knowledge, research skills, and collaboration skills.

Teachers will enhance their pedagogical abilities by integrating scientific information and activities related to their research projects into inquiry-based lessons and laboratory experiences for their classrooms. The teachers will network with each other on educational ideas, knowledge of online resources, and curricular information, especially as it relates to the Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, and their individual state standards.

In small teams of teachers, participants will conduct short-term research projects at ORNL and/or Pellissippi State Community College. The participants will also receive an introduction to engineering design and entrepreneurship through evening activities. In addition, they will have opportunities to attend a variety of cultural and recreational activities that enrich and celebrate their Appalachian heritage and extend the research and science activities outside the laboratory.