Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it is hosting 25 elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers over the summer as part of the company’s on going partnership with the Bay Area-based Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME). The IISME organization works to foster a strong, highly skilled workforce in science, technology, engineering and math.
IISME’s primary initiative, the Summer Fellowship Program, places qualified teachers into local companies and research labs for an eight-week learning experience. During this period, each teacher, paired with industry mentors, augments their science and math skills by solving real-world problems. Upon returning to the classroom, application of the industry experience helps teachers stimulate student interest in math and science and, in turn, helps students to become lifelong learners.
“Lockheed Martin truly values our IISME partnership and hosting teachers in our workplace each summer,” said Kevin Bilger, Lockheed Martin vice president & general manager and member of the IISME Senior Advisory Council. “This experience helps each teacher to better engage students in our community schools and to open their imaginations to the endless possibilities when you apply math and science.”
As IISME’s largest sponsor in 2009, Lockheed Martin will be hosting 25 IISME fellows in honor of the organization’s 25th anniversary. This year, the IISME fellows will focus on technical challenges and teaching modules associated with space-based programs under development at the company’s Sunnyvale and Palo Alto facilities. Throughout their fellowship, each teacher will develop an Education Transfer Plan (ETP) to map out how they will apply their real-world experience to most effectively inspire students in the classroom.
Brian Dong, a returning Lockheed Martin IISME fellow said, “What I have learned by partnering with IISME and Lockheed Martin has been extremely beneficial for myself, but more importantly, for my students. The real world lessons that I am able to apply in the classroom constantly keep my students stimulated and excited about a possible future in science and technology.”
Jennifer Bruckner, IISME’s executive director, added, “As we celebrate IISME’s 25th anniversary, we are thrilled to have worked with Lockheed Martin since the very beginning. Watching the real life impact that our Summer Fellowship Program has had on teachers and their students over the years has been truly inspiring and we look forward to another 25 inspirational years.”
IISME was founded in 1985 by a consortium of San Francisco Bay Area companies including Lockheed Martin, in partnership with the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley and seeks to transform teaching and learning through industry-education partnerships.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.
Media Contact: Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531;
e-mail, Stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com
For more information about IISME, please visit www.iisme.org
For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit: www.lockheedmartin.com
