Two New Tech Network Teachers Earn Math and Science Award

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Two New Tech Network Teachers earn math and science award
North Carolina teachers Matt Sears and William Hendrickson honored by The Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Raleigh, NC – (March XX, 2010) – Two New Tech Network teachers have been given a prestigious career award from The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers will provide $175,000 over a period of five years ($35,000 per year), as well as professional development opportunities.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is an independent private foundation dedicated to advancing the biomedical sciences by supporting research and other scientific and educational activities.
The purpose of this award is to recognize teachers who have demonstrated solid knowledge of science or mathematics content and have outstanding performance records in educating children.
“We are pleased to have the support of the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction in this endeavor,” said John Burris, president of BWF. “The success of our students is determined by having excellent teachers to guide and mentor them.”
Matt Sears, chairman of the mathematics department at Hillside New Tech High School, and William Hendrickson, a science teacher at Warren New Tech High School said they are honored to be chosen.
William Hendrickson, who was also chosen as the 2010 Warren County Teacher of the Year, was humbled to receive the award.
“I look forward to using this award to propel the students of Warren County to higher levels of science achievement,” said Hendrickson. “I believe that the people of Warren County placed their faith in their children to develop a bright future when they established Warren New Tech High School. Receiving this award shows that the investment is already paying off as others are now able to acknowledge the achievements that the school has already obtained, and that they, too, are willing to invest in this innovative approach to educational pedagogy.”
Matt Sears plans on using a portion of his funds to attend professional development to enhance his knowledge and skills as a teacher.
New Tech Press Release
March 2010
“I'm very excited to have the opportunities that this award will provide. I've had a long list of conferences that seem exciting, but that financial resources have prevented me from attending,” Sears said. “I'll get to have some great experiences that I bring back to my school, my district and the New Tech Network.”
Sharing best practices is a hallmark of schools in the New Tech Network. New Tech supports the start-up and implementation of innovative high schools marked by project-based learning in a technology rich environment. There are now 40 New Tech High Schools in nine states, and plans call for the rapid expansion of New Tech schools over the next five years.
Unlike students in traditional high schools where most teachers lecture and use textbooks as a teaching approach, teachers in New Tech high schools design rigorous, real-world projects tied to state and district standards, customizing them to their location and the interests of students. The result: a classroom environment where students are deeply engaged in learning and develop important skills such as critical thinking and collaboration.
The New Tech Network model relies on its revolutionary teachers. Kristin Cuilla, director of the North Carolina New Tech Network, has nothing but praise for Sears and Hendrickson.
“I am overwhelmed with pride for William Hendrickson and Matt Sears. Their recognition as two of five premier science and mathematics educators in North Carolina comes as no surprise to the New Tech Network colleagues with whom they have collaborated on state and national endeavors for the past three years,” Cuilla said. “William and Matt are truly master teachers who strive daily to improve their practice for their students’ success and the success of their communities.”
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About New Tech Network: New Tech Network, www.newtechnetwork.org, is a school development organization that supports the start-up and implementation of innovative high schools. There are currently more than 40 schools across the country, including schools in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, California and Louisiana. It is a subsidiary of KnowledgeWorks Foundation.

About KnowledgeWorks: KnowledgeWorks Foundation (www.kwfdn.org) strives to be the leader in developing and implementing innovative and effective approaches to high school education in the United States. The organization primarily focuses on redesigning urban high schools, developing STEM and Early College high schools, and supporting student-centered approaches to delivering real learning and results in our scho