The Tech Academies Fellowship

Apply now for Summer Institute and join the 2026 Fellowship Program

Join a growing network of STEAM education leaders building hands-on problem solving skills in youth through innovative teaching practices. Participate in a week-long summer institute with behind-the-scenes access to museum experts in the heart of Silicon Valley. Carry your learning forward through a fall community of practice.

Program Description

Create IconCreate and prototype an activity that you can bring to your classroom.

Icon-CollaborateCollaborate with other educators during 5 hybrid Community of Practice sessions that support STEM teaching implementation.

Share IconShare what you have learned and how you brought it to your classroom with your colleagues. 

2026 Fellows Will Receive:

Hand-On Professional Development

  • Access to 50 hours of quality PD focused on STEM integration, engineering and computer science teaching pedagogy. 
  • Engage with user-centered design strategies for helping learners practice empathy in their engineering designs.

Community of Practice

  • Membership to a network of like-minded educators committed to increasing quality STEM instruction in their classrooms.
  • Opportunities to engage with subject matter experts in STEM fields and get feedback on activity prototypes.   

Cross-Curricular Content 

  • Explore a variety of hands-on methods for teaching STEM, including Design Challenge Learning, BioTinkering, and Computational Thinking.
  • Opportunities to plan how to integrate these teaching strategies into your classroom curriculum

Exclusive access to The Tech Interactive

  • Behind-the-scenes tours of exhibits and programs.
  • Strategies for helping learners engage deeply with the exhibits when visiting The Tech.
Program Requirements
  • A one-week Summer Institute, July 20-24, 2026 focused on completing a project customized to the learning needs of your community
  • An observation related to coaching colleagues on implementation of your Summer Institute project
  • Participation in 5 hybrid community of practice meetings designed to support STEM teaching implementation and teacher leadership in the fall (9/12, 10/3, 10/24, 11/14, and a celebration on 12/5)

  • 1/5

    "I'm in my first few years of teaching. I don't have all the skill sets, so I came here with an open mind, ready to learn. My students really benefit from all of that knowledge."

  • 2/5

    "I've learned so much about project based STEM instruction, and now can design a project for my students. In my lesson, students must create a wind powered cart. They got to be creative, collaborate with their peers, and use their knowledge to build their carts."

  • 3/5

    "Tech academies helped me realize what computational thinking was, and how to apply computational thinking to the lessons and concepts I was already teaching."

  • 4/5

  • 5/5

Award-winning Impact

The Tech’s Fellowship program has empowered educators in our partner districts, and expanded learning organizations to develop leadership skills and cross-curricular expertise in Design Challenge Learning, BioTinkering, and Computational Thinking instruction for more than 10 years. Fellows actively implement what they have learned in the program, including integrating STEM into the curriculum and delivering professional development within their districts.

Learn More

Check to see if you are pre-approved!

  • Alum Rock Union School District
  • Campbell Union School District
  • Campbell Union High School District
  • East Side Union High School District
  • Evergreen Elementary School District
  • Franklin-McKinley School District
  • Gilroy Unified School District
  • Morgan Hill Unified School District
  • Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
  • Oak Grove School District
  • San José Unified School District
  • Expanded learning organizations working with any of the listed districts

Teachers from preapproved partner districts can apply for complimentary registration. Costs for all other applicants are as follows:

$1,500 per person includes all above program benefits.
Discounts may be available. Please contact ta@thetech.org for more information.

Apply for The Tech Academies Summer Institute by May 31.

For general information, please contact ta@thetech.org