There are many opportunities for prospective, future and current teachers. This page contains scholarships, fellowships, research opportunities, and grants that help teachers continue and flourish within their education and careers. This list is not exhaustive, but should provide insight into the many opportunities that exist for K-12 educators.

AAPT’s Lotze Scholarship for future physics teachers:

The AAPT Board of Directors offers scholarships for future high school physics teachers. These scholarships, supported by an endowment funded by Barbara Lotze, are available only to U.S. citizens attending U.S. schools.

Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors entering such programs are eligible. Successful applicants receive a stipend of up to $3,000 and a complimentary AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship may be granted to an individual for each of four years.

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Teachers.  Applicants must declare their intent to prepare for, and engage in, a career in physics teaching at the high school level and must, at the time the scholarship funds are received by the student, be:

• an undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited two-year college, four-year college or a university; or a high school senior accepted for such enrollment.
• pursuing, or planning to pursue, a course of study leading toward a career in physics teaching in the high schools.
• showing promise of success in their studies, and
• a citizen of the United States of America.

Applications can be submitted online, accepted at any time, and will be considered for recommendation to the Board of Directors at each AAPT Winter Meeting. All applications in which all materials, including letters of recommendation, are received by December 1 will be considered for recommendation at the winter meeting of the AAPT Board of Directors.

AAEE’s Jones Scholarships for future teachers in subjects of critical need and future teachers of color:

Candidates for this award will be enrolled in a teacher preparation program through an accredited institution of higher education and will continue in the Spring 2023 semester as full-time students. Only students from a college or university holding institutional membership in AAEE are eligible to participate. This award is a one-time, non- renewable $1,000 grant designed to assist in the career development of these promising teacher candidates in the identified critical need areas.

ACS’s Hach Scholarships for future and current chemistry teachers:

The ACS-Hach Programs provide financial support to future and current high school chemistry teachers throughout the United States. From completing teaching credentials to obtaining support for classroom resources, chemistry teachers can count on ACS-Hach Programs to help them advance chemistry education for their students.

Scholarships include:

• ACS-Hach Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Scholarship: awarded to recent graduates and graduate students with limited work experience and an interest in becoming secondary chemistry teachers. Recipients must be pursuing a Masters degree in education or becoming certified as a chemistry/science teacher. Read more here.
• ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship: awarded to professionals in the chemistry field pursuing new careers as high school chemistry teachers. Read more here.
• ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship: awarded to undergraduate chemistry majors who attend one of our 72 partner institutions and express an interest in teaching high school chemistry. Students are selected on the bases of chemistry aptitude, interest, and need. The selection process is administered by partner universities. The partner universities have oversight for the selection of scholars. Read more here.
• And more!

Knowles Teacher Fellowship Program:

The Knowles Teacher Initiative is a nonprofit organization that supports a national network of mathematics and science teachers who are collaborative, innovative leaders improving education for all students in the United States. From Knowles:

We understand that teaching is a critically important, complex and intellectually challenging endeavor. We also recognize that learning to teach well requires time, sustained effort, and ongoing support and development throughout a teacher’s career. To assist with that development, the Knowles Teaching Fellows Program is divided into two phases, with each phase building on the next. Two key leadership development threads run through all five years of the program: practitioner inquiry and community-building.

Read more about the five year program and all it has to offer here.

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Projects:

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program provides funding to institutions of higher education to provide scholarships, stipends, and programmatic support to recruit and prepare STEM majors and professionals to become K-12 teachers. The program seeks to increase the number of K-12 teachers with strong STEM content knowledge who teach in high-need school districts. Learn more about the application process and becoming a Noyce Scholar or Teacher Leader here. Explore current projects here.

Research Experiences for Teachers Program:

The Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science program supports authentic summer research experiences for K-14 educators to foster long-term collaborations between universities, community colleges, school districts, and industry partners. The focus is on a reciprocal exchange of expertise between K-14 educators and research faculty and (when applicable) industry mentors. Educators will enhance their scientific disciplinary knowledge in engineering or computer science and translate their research experiences into classroom activities and curricula to broaden their students’ awareness of and participation in computing and engineering pathways. At the same time, the hosting research faculty will deepen their understanding of classroom practices, current curricula, pedagogy, and K-14 educational environments. Explore current programs here.

STAR Teacher Researcher:

STAR aims to produce excellent K-12 STEM teachers by providing aspiring teachers with opportunities to do authentic research while helping them translate their research experience into classroom practice. No previous experience? No problem. That’s exactly what we provide. STAR pairs aspiring STEM teachers with world-class researchers and scientists at research laboratories throughout the western United States, where Fellowes receive hands-on experience at top labs. Read more and apply here.

Other Options:

Check with a teaching advisor for teaching-specific scholarship opportunities at your institution.