We are looking for highly-motivated educators
committed to completing the one-year program.
Applicant Criteria:
- Must be an educator
- Must teach in East Tennessee
- Must obtain a letter of endorsement from your principal or department head
- Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
- Note, with additional support we hope to open this to all educators
Why Should You Participate?:
You will become part of a team that develops and implements a novel mosquito, geoscience, and communication in-service academy with teacher-developed curriculum. Educators involved in this community-driven program will take an active role in identifying Aedes populations and educating the community on entomology and geospatial technologies.
Participating-Educator Benefits:
- Those who complete the Academy will receive a certificate, continuing education units (if requested), and up to $1000 stipend to compensate for time and effort
- Be invited to participate in the following’s years evening symposium and share their experiences with the community
- Be encouraged to serve as mentors for future cohorts
- Forge relationships with educators, faculty, industry, and government leaders
- Develop the necessary skills to integrate food and agricultural science concepts in their classes while learning about career paths with their students in entomology, geosciences, and communications
- Help generate and evaluate new pieces of curriculum for medical entomology, geospatial analyses, and communications; lunch and learn videos for promoting career paths, workshop material for hosting similar academies; and experiential learning opportunities
- Design and train a workforce capable of running an authentic surveillance program.
- Educate a workforce (which includes students and the community) in entomology, geospatial technologies, and agricultural sciences.
Educational and Workforce-Related Benefits:
- Participation informs the community of entomology and geospatial careers and opportunities and develops a workforce interested in agricultural careers.
- Development of an educational and community-based surveillance program enhances education and awareness.
- Development of curriculum and informational materials (e.g., digital and printed communication material) will help community programs and health departments make informed decisions regarding mosquito control.
- Resulting mosquito data will be used to enhance the prediction of mosquito populations, pathogen transmission periods, and prevent the onset of disease.
Before you apply please prepare the following:
In the application, you will be required to:
(1) Email a letter of support (View and download a letter template) from your principal or immediate supervisor directly to rfryxell@utk.edu with the subject line: MEGA:BITESS LOS.
(2) Provide your answers to a series of open response questions. It is best that you prepare your responses in advance and copy/paste them into the application.
They are:
- Why are you interested in the MEGA:BITESS Academy? (100 word maximum)
- How could you incorporate what you learn in the Academy into your classroom? (100 word maximum)
- What challenges or obstacles do you think you will face during the Academy? (100 word maximum)
- How will you overcome these challenges or obstacles? (100 word maximum)
- Why should you be selected for the MEGA:BITESS Academy? (100 word maximum)
Key Dates for 2022-2023 Cohort:
- Application deadline May 30, 2022
- Summer Workshop June 20-24, 2022
- GIS Workshop to be determined by educator & project team
- Communications Workshop to be determined by educator & project team
Application Website:
- For Returning MEGA:BITESS Educators: Returning Educators Apply Here!
- For New Educators: (New Link Coming Soon!)