Overview

The Seminars for Teachers program allows teachers to reconnect to the world of scholarship in a professional development program that offers collaboration between university faculty and K-12 teachers.  Teachers attend one- or two-day, on-campus seminars led by distinguished and dynamic professors in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.  Together, university faculty and fellow teachers from both private and public schools in the DC metropolitan area expand their knowledge, share ideas, and engage in conversation.

The program is part of a nationwide initiative of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and is offered with support from the College of Arts and Humanities and the Office of the Provost at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Program Benefits

• Taught by distinguished faculty, the program offers content-rich seminars covering a variety of disciplines to provide K-12 teachers with an intellectually enriching experience that revitalizes them on both a personal and professional level.
• Teachers become part of a network of educators that may communicate with one another online and at future events.
• Program participants receive all course materials, meals, and parking free of charge .

The value of SFT not only affects the participating teachers, but also extends to the schools and districts. Teachers gain renewed energy for their classrooms, which benefits their students immediately.  Moreover, as the program attracts dedicated and creative professionals, there are many possibilities for sharing the content and resources from the seminars with colleagues and other groups within their communities.

How does it work?

The SFT program functions as a partnership between the teachers, their school and district, and the University of Maryland. Teachers receive release time for the duration of the seminar (one or two school days).  Two-day seminars are spaced two to three weeks apart to allow time for reading and preparation. Participating schools and districts cover the cost of the seminar and the cost of substitute teachers. (Schedule of Fees)

To participate, see Eligibility and Registration.