K-12 STEM Educator Development

The Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium (WSGC), part of a broader national effort to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research, offers funding opportunities to support professional development for K-12 educators across the state of Wyoming. This initiative aligns with NASA’s overarching mission to advance scientific knowledge and inspire the next generation through educational outreach and workforce development. By providing small-scale grants, the WSGC supports educators in enhancing their teaching practices, fostering greater STEM engagement among students, and promoting equitable access to quality educational resources throughout Wyoming. This particular funding opportunity provides up to approximately $500 for Wyoming-based K-12 educators to pursue professional development. The scope of eligible activities is broad and includes attending professional workshops and seminars, hosting educational events, purchasing STEM-related materials for classroom or informal education settings, and enrolling in continuing education courses. The fund is designed to be flexible and educator-driven, enabling teachers to select development experiences that are most relevant to their teaching context and the needs of their students. Activities must have a STEM focus, and applicants are expected to articulate the potential educational impact of the funding. The application process is simple and ongoing, with no fixed deadline. Interested educators must submit a concise application document of approximately one page via email. The application should include the applicant’s contact information, teaching background, a detailed description of the proposed activity including dates and location, a summary of the STEM content involved, and an explanation of how the activity will benefit the educator, school, students, or educational organization. Applicants are also asked to estimate the number and types of individuals who may benefit from the activity, such as K-12 students, fellow teachers, parents, or the general public. A brief budget justification detailing anticipated costs and the amount requested from WSGC must also be included. There is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds, making this grant particularly accessible to educators who may not have institutional financial support. The WSGC encourages applications that reflect creativity, inclusiveness, and community impact. While the program is limited to educators within the state of Wyoming, its design ensures localized support for those working directly with students in both formal and informal educational settings. Successful applicants are expected to provide a final report detailing how the grant funds were used. This report is used by WSGC for internal documentation and NASA reporting. WSGC follows up with funded educators via email to remind them about submitting their final report. The program does not involve a formal review panel or scoring rubric, and selection is likely handled internally on a rolling basis, enabling timely support for educator needs. For questions, applicants can contact the WSGC at [email protected] or by phone at (307) 766-2862 or (307) 766-2987. All application materials should be emailed to the same address. The program operates out of the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Wyoming, indicating a strong institutional affiliation and academic backing for the initiative. Given that applications are accepted continuously, this opportunity serves as an evergreen resource for Wyoming educators seeking to deepen their STEM teaching practice.