Franklin Academy is proud to announce that Math Department Chair, Amy Bigelow, has been selected to participate in Iowa State University’s 2026 Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program, a highly competitive professional development initiative supported by the National Science Foundation.
Bigelow was selected as one of a competitive cohort of educators from schools across the United States, recognizing her commitment to excellence in STEM education and innovative classroom instruction.
The summer-long program immerses K–12 STEM educators in authentic scientific research alongside Iowa State University faculty, graduate students, and research teams. Participants contribute to active research projects in fields such as biotechnology, agriculture, environmental science, engineering, sustainability, data science, and other emerging areas of scientific inquiry.
By working directly with researchers, teachers gain firsthand experience with the scientific process while exploring new ways to bring contemporary research, problem-solving, and engineering practices into their classrooms. The experience is designed to help educators create more engaging, relevant, and inquiry-based learning opportunities for their students.
In addition to their research placements, participants take part in a comprehensive professional learning program focused on instructional leadership, collaboration, and innovation. The 2026 program theme, Voice & Agency, challenges educators to examine how they can empower students to take ownership of their learning while fostering curiosity, creativity, and meaningful problem-solving.
The program is grounded in the belief that educators are not simply consumers of knowledge, but leaders and contributors who help shape the future of STEM education. Through collaborative research and professional learning, participants return to their schools equipped with new perspectives, instructional strategies, and real-world experiences that enrich student learning.
“For nearly 19 years, Amy Bigelow has not only transformed mathematics education at Franklin Academy but has helped redefine how educators across the country think about mathematics instruction for students with exceptional potential,” according to Dr. Alexander Morris-Wood, Head of School. “Her work has challenged the notion that curriculum should be one size fits all, developing innovative approaches that both cultivate advanced mathematical talent and unlock the capabilities of students with specific learning disabilities. This national recognition celebrates an educator whose influence extends far beyond our campus, changing the way schools think about what is possible in mathematics education.”
Bigelow’s participation in the RET Program will allow her to bring new research experiences, instructional strategies, and real-world STEM applications back to Franklin Academy, further enriching the school’s mathematics and science curriculum.
