Two local science teachers named fellows

Two local science teachers are among six in Indiana and 215 nationwide to be selected for a fellowship program in the National Science Teacher Association New Science Teacher Academy.

Nicole Lofgren, who teaches at Highland High School, and Mira Projovic, who teaches at the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology, were named.

Both teachers were thrilled.

Lofgren, a third-year teacher at the high school, said the Web-based fellowship offers different strategies to improve in the classroom and outlines common problems teachers face.

"We can talk to our mentors and mentees from across the nation and work through issues," she said. "I am benefiting from the workshops. We also get an opportunity to attend the National Science Teachers Conference in March as a benefit of being a fellow."

Projovic said science is one of those career fields that is constantly changing, and the fellowship offers her an opportunity to stay current. "I have great mentors, and I can see what other science teachers are doing across the country. The networking abilities are phenomenal," she said.

Projovic, who went back to school at age 37 to earn a degree, said she never expected she would be teaching. She said she was in the restaurant business and owned a cafe in Lansing. Once she sold it in 2006, she wasn't sure what she would do, then decided to attend Purdue University Calumet to earn a degree.

The Fellows will receive a comprehensive NSTA membership package, online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline and the opportunity to participate in a variety of Web-based professional development activities, including Web seminars. In addition, they will receive financial support to attend and participate in NSTA's 2012 National Conference on Science Education in Indianapolis.