This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Kevin Lowe, a science teacher at Longmont High School, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship by Knowles Teacher Initiative, based in Moorestown, New Jersey.
Only 37 teachers in the country were named as fellows this year, according to Knowles’ Rebecca Bradshaw. “The Knowles Teaching Fellowship is an intensive and cohesive five-year program that supports early-career high school mathematics and science teachers in their efforts to develop teacher expertise and lead from the classroom,” Bradshaw said.
Lowe earned his Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from CU Boulder in 2018 and began his teaching career at LHS last fall. He said he was encouraged to apply for the fellowship by some colleagues who are also Knowles Fellows.
As a Fellow, Lowe has access to grants for any expenses associated with his classroom, including purchasing materials, attending professional development training and participating in mentoring and coaching programs. With his grant money, he plans on purchasing scientific modeling kits and tools for use in his biology, physiology and anatomy classes. He is also using some of the funds to attend the National Association for Biology Teachers conference in Chicago next month.
“It costs quite a bit to attend, with airfare, hotel and registration, so I wouldn’t be able to go without help from Knowles,” Lowe said. “A goal of mine this year is to have students model science phenomena in class, so I will be attending workshops and presentations centered around modeling.”
Lowe added that in his short time with the Knowles program, he has already grown as a teacher.
“Something really special about being a Knowles Fellow is that early-career teachers rarely get the opportunity to slow down and view their teaching underneath a microscope with other professionals,” Lowe said. “I look forward to continuing to grow over the next five years of the program.”
