The Sally Ride Science Academy

ExxonMobil is a partner with Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel in space, and conducts professional development programs for elementary and middle school math and science teachers, specialists and administrators. The Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil encourages student interest in math and science education though curriculum augmentation, programs to make math and science more relevant, constructive feedback skills training and tools to promote careers in math and science. In addition, the Academy provides gender equity training to help educators foster an encouraging and collaborative learning environment.

The Academy is designed to address three key objectives:

• Spark interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The Academy provides supplemental materials to schools' standard math and science lesson plans, helping to spark students' interests in these fields.
• Address gender balance issues. The Academy provides gender equity teacher training to help teachers foster an encouraging and collaborative learning environment and guide them on providing specific and constructive feedback to students.
• Redefine STEM career perceptions. The Academy provides teachers and counselors with career information focused on dispelling negative stereotypes of STEM.

As of March 31, 2012, a total of 657 educators from 52 districts have attended a Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil. Those educators have trained 4,828 teachers in their districts.