RALEIGH — A new program will help North Carolina public school teachers get the training and experience they need to provide more opportunities for students to learn about promising careers.

Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education are launching the Governor’s Educator Discovery Award for public school teachers across the state.

The awards recognize the value of professional development for teachers at all phases of their careers. The program will provide a stipend of as much as $1,000 for pre-K through 12th grade traditional public and public charter school teachers to pursue professional development.

Teachers can use the grant to attend a workshop or conference that deepens their subject area knowledge, such as a coding workshop for computer science teachers or a session on project-based learning.

The program aims to hand out six to 12 awards during the 2018-19 school year.

“Teachers are the most important factor in improving student success in our public schools,” Cooper said. “We want to give them more ways to get the training and professional development they need to connect their classroom to future career opportunities for their students.”

To be eligible for the awards, teachers must submit a proposal that includes details about their teaching experience and the professional development activity they wish to pursue. Applicants also need to describe how their participation will enhance their efforts to create a work-based learning activity.

Applications submitted online by Jan. 1 will be considered for the first set of awards. Future applications will be considered after April 15 and July 15 and beyond, if sufficient funding is available. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of business leaders and educators. Winners will be notified of their selection by email.

To learn more about the awards or submit an application, click here (https://nccu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3sHfhK6lIX2Ierj).

Increasing work-based learning opportunities for students is a key part of NC Job Ready, Cooper’s workforce training initiative.