Dates

TII Teachers accepted in 2025 will be onsite in Washington, DC July 7-18, 2025 and July 13-24, 2026.

Who Should Apply

Middle School (grades 5-8) STEAM teachers who have an interest in expanding their practice to include informal education techniques. Ideal candidates are classroom teachers who plan on teaching for several years after TII. Efforts will be made to enroll a cohort that supports a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment. Early career educators, educators of color, LGBTQ+ educators, educators with disabilities, and educators working in the public schools, particularly Title I schools, are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions about the program or your eligibility, contact us.

Teachers Will Learn

During their time in Washington, DC, and during the school year, teachers will focus on authentic learning, including the incorporation of real-world problems, open-ended inquiry, and hands-on, student-driven practices. Cohort members will work to refine their practice and design content around their professional goals as they progress through the program. 

Through hands-on activities, museum tours, visits to other museums, group work, and expertise from museum educators and content experts, teachers will use aerospace science, history, and technology to shape their ideas about authentic learning and bring informal education techniques into their classrooms. 

As a part of the application process, teachers will be asked to reflect on their classroom practices and envision the ways in which their learning at TII will impact their classroom and school community.  During their time in TII, teachers will use these reflections to develop and work toward goals by drafting and iterating upon a Professional Development Plan.

We Provide

• There is no cost for teachers to participate. Teachers are provided with lodging, food, and travel.
• During the institute, teachers will be given special museum experiences and access to content experts in both informal education and aerospace content.
• Participants will also have opportunities to connect with their cohort and museum staff several times during the school year.

Expectations for Participants

• Commit to the full two weeks each summer for two consecutive summers.
• Collaborate with other TII teachers to develop and iterate upon your proposed professional development plan. 
• Actively participate in sessions led by Smithsonian Institution staff and guests on the marriage of informal and formal learning. 
• Assist in the evaluation of and iteration upon current educational programming at the National Air and Space Museum. 

How to Apply

Applications for the 2025 cohort will open on October 15, 2024 and remain open until January 2025.   

To stay updated on TII and other programs and resources for teachers, consider subscribing to our monthly Teacher Newsletter. 

Frequently Asked Questions

I teach grades other than 5-8. Can I still apply?
Yes. Our past cohorts serve students in grades PK-12 and beyond. We do prioritize middle school teachers when reviewing and selecting candidates, but if you fulfill the other criteria, we welcome your application.

I don’t teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Can I still apply?
Maybe. You don’t have to teach ALL of the subjects in STEAM to be considered. We have lots of current cohort members who just teach one of the STEAM disciplines, or who teach a STEAM discipline in addition to others. Those folks are often great candidates, especially if they work to include STEAM disciplines into the other parts of their curriculum. Folks who don’t teach any of the STEAM disciplines are not our target audience for this program. 

I am not a classroom teacher. Can I still apply?
Maybe. The focus of the Teacher Innovator Institute is supporting and uplifting classroom teachers, and through them, their students. Curriculum coaches and administrators may fulfill some of the criteria for application, but would need to demonstrate a direct impact on students to be considered. Folks working in public libraries, museums, universities, and other non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply.

Can educators outside the US apply?
No. TII is focused on teachers in the US and its territories for the time being. The only exception is for US teachers teaching abroad with programs like DoDEA. 

Can I submit more than two letters of recommendation?
No. Though we love to hear that many colleagues and community members want to say great things, please choose your two strongest letters of recommendation for submission, following the guidelines of one peer and one community recommendation.