GEorgia Intern-Fellowships
 for Teachers

Georgia Intern-Fellowships for Teachers (GIFT) is a collaborative effort designed to enhance mathematics and science experiences of Georgia teachers and their students. GIFT believes a significant way to impact our students is through its teachers. By offering business, industry, public science institute and research fellowships to teachers, GIFT provides educators first-hand exposure to the skills and knowledge necessary for the preparation of our future workforce: the students currently in Georgia’s classrooms. Since 1991, GIFT has placed middle and high school math, science and technology teachers in over 1200 positions throughout the state. In these fellowships, teachers are involved in cutting edge scientific research, data analysis, curriculum development and real-world inquiry and problem solving.

Meet current GIFT Program Manager Bonnie Harris on YouTube: GIFT 2008 Greeting See also a detailed video summary of the 2007 GIFT summer experience featuring former GIFT Program Director Donna Barrett: GIFT 2007 Video

When does the GIFT program take place?
The teacher fellowships run from six to eight weeks during the summer. GIFT follows up with its teachers during the school year to provide support and oversee the transfer of the summer experience into the classroom.

What are the benefits of the GIFT program?
Sponsor: Through sponsor participation, the teacher has the opportunity to experience the application of science, mathematics, and computing in "real world" inquiry, problem solving and reasoning. The teacher then develops an implementation plan for integrating new perspectives, knowledge, and insights gained from the fellowship experience into the classroom to stimulate student interest in science, mathematics, and computing. The increased level of student interest can lead to sponsor involvement in the classroom, student internships with sponsors, and ultimately enhanced employment opportunities. By participating, sponsors receive an enthusiastic employee who becomes an advocate for the sponsoring organization while making a contribution to the organization by delivering a sound product.

System: School systems gain teachers who have experienced real work applications of math, science and technology. These teachers share their experiences with students through the development of inquiry-based activities. GIFT teachers often take on leadership positions in their schools and share these experiences and their enthusiasm with colleagues and students.

Teacher: The teacher gains opportunities to network with business mentors, faculty and staff of higher institutions, and teachers from other school systems. Teachers feel renewed and confident; and develop inquiry-based relevant mathematics, science, and technology lessons in their classrooms.

Student: Students are motivated to learn more about science, mathematics, and technology because they can make the connection of how these topics apply to the real world. Students have opportunities to communicate with business professionals and research scientists. GIFT believes this exposure for students can lead to increased interest in the desired fields of study, higher test scores and graduation rates, and an increase in qualified applicants for science, mathematics and technology positions in the workforce.

Where does GIFT take place?
GIFT takes place across Georgia, with concentrations in metro-Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Augusta, Athens, Tifton and Albany; plus Georgia Power Plants across the state.