Teacher Academy
The Battelle Teacher Academy in Ohio
Ohio educators helped launch one of the nation’s most hands-on STEM professional development programs. Now available in four states, the Teacher Academy continues to connect Ohio teachers to local industries and real-world learning.
Where it started
The Teacher Academy began in Ohio through the Ohio STEM Learning Network, a partnership between Battelle and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Ohio educators were the first cohort to go through the yearlong experience, testing and refining the model that now serves teachers in California, Michigan, and South Carolina.
The program builds teacher confidence in STEM instruction through:
- design thinking,
- problem-based learning, and
- direct exposure to local industry.
Ohio’s deep manufacturing base and concentration of Maritime Industrial Base suppliers made it a natural proving ground.
Summer externship
The externship is the heart of the Teacher Academy. Ohio participants are matched with a local business or manufacturer, ideally within the community where they teach. During one to two days on-site, teachers observe operations, identify authentic problems students could tackle, and learn about career pathways available to their students locally.
Ohio is home to hundreds of Maritime Industrial Base suppliers supporting submarine and surface ship construction. Trades like welding, CNC machining, pipefitting, additive manufacturing, and metrology are in high demand across the state. The externship helps teachers make those connections concrete for students.
Supported by the U.S. Navy
The Teacher Academy is supported, in part, by the U.S. Navy under a grant to expand the Maritime Industrial Base in the United States.
The Maritime Industrial Base includes millions of workers across 16,000 suppliers. This network of manufacturers and engineers is essential to the design, construction, maintenance and modernization of the U.S. Navy’s submarine and surface ship fleets.
There are hundreds of Maritime Industrial Base Suppliers in Ohio. Key trades include: Welding, CNC Machining, Pipefitting, Non-Destructive Testing, Additive Manufacturing, Plumbing, Electrical, Machining, and Metrology.Â
Learn more at https://buildsubmarines.com/.Â
Program details
Eligibility
Ohio Eligibility at a Glance
- Must teach at a school in Ohio
- Full-time K-12 instruction in any subject area, including electives
- Principal commitment form required upon acceptance
- Partner applications from same school or district encouraged
2026-2027 Ohio Schedule
- Kickoff Event (In-Person): June 15–17, 2026 | Columbus, OH
- Community of Practice (Virtual, Afterschool): August 4, September 8, October 6, 2026; January 12, 2027 | 3:30–5:00 PM
- Full-Day Virtual Conferences: November 5, 2026; February 1, 2027
- Wrap-Up Event (In-Person): April 2, 2027 | Columbus, OH
Ready to apply?
The Battelle Teacher Academy is now a national program hosted at battelle.org. Applications, deadlines, and full program details are available there.