Blessed Sacrament teacher chosen for Teachers Academy

Courtesy photo/Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

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Teri Kolkebeck

Courtesy of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

SANDY — Teri Kolkebeck, a fifth-grade teacher at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, has been selected to attend the national Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, to be held at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey from July 17 to July 22.

Kolkebeck was one of 200 teachers selected from a pool of more than 1,500 applicants. Teachers were chosen by a panel of educators from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Science Teachers Association based on their qualifications, dedication to inspiring students an at early age and overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession.

Kolkebeck and the other teachers at the academy will participate in an intensive one-week, all-expense paid professional development program designed to provide innovative skills to teach math and science in the classroom.

Phil and Amy Mickelson partnered with ExxonMobil to develop the Academy in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions.

The Mickelsons wanted to develop a program that inspires teachers from across the country in math and science and equips them with interactive teaching tools to ignite their students’ passion for these subjects. This program is designed to develop the next generation of science-savvy citizens who will grow up to make the next breakthrough in medicine, in energy, or in any of the growing number of fields that require a solid foundation in math and science.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School Principal Matt DeVoll was excited to hear about Kolkebeck’s selection as a participant in the academy.

"A big push at our school is to get all students interested in math and science at an early age," DeVoll said. "This will increase their interest in these subjects throughout their high school years. This professional development program will enhance Mrs. Kolkebeck’s ability to create lesson plans that will ignite her students’ interest in math and science."