Princeton, NJ – The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (formerly known as the WW National Fellowship Foundation) is pleased to announce the 2021 class of WW Pennsylvania Teaching Fellows. Among the class is Despina Nakos of Upper Darby. (University of the Sciences ’20, B.S., Physics). Despina grew up in the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox church, where she was also a GOYAN. Nakos is currently teaching at Bodine High School for International Affairs in North Philadelphia. “I’m excited to begin my journey teaching high school physics and share my excitement for science with my students. I’m so lucky to have great support from my family, especially my parents and my professors!”
As part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s continued effort to close achievement gaps and provide all students with high-quality teachers, the Institute for Citizens & Scholars announces the third class of Pennsylvania Woodrow Wilson (WW) Teaching Fellows.
The highly competitive program recruits graduates and career changers with strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math—the STEM fields—and prepares them specifically to teach in high-need secondary schools in Pennsylvania.
Despina Nakos
Each WW Pennsylvania Teaching Fellow receives $32,000 to complete a specially designed, cutting-edge master’s degree program based on a yearlong classroom experience. In return, Fellows commit to teach for three years in high-need Pennsylvania schools. Fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring throughout their three-year commitment as a teacher of record at a public school.
Forty individuals will be part of the third cohort of the WW Teaching Fellowship program in the state (Fellow names follow at the end of this release). They will attend Duquesne University, West Chester University, and the University of Pennsylvania.