APPLY TO BE A CREOL TEACHER AMBASSADOR
Help educate students about a career in Photonics.
The United States faces a critical shortage of optical engineers who design and build light-based technologies. With only five universities in the U.S., students are unaware of the careers in the field and we need your help spreading the word about photonics.
We hope to identify teachers who will join us for a 3-day summer workshop, two follow up sessions during the academic year and will join us for years to come as an important resource and advocate for photonics to your students. In return, you will gain exclusive access to resources here in the college and become part of the one of the world’s leading optics and photonics research and education institutions.
As part of the Teacher Ambassador program, you will learn about photonics, receive interactive lab activities and supplies, and receive a stipend for attendance to the workshop activities.
The Teacher Ambassador Program
Date: June 11-13, 2025, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, with two follow-up workshops (dates determined at the Summer Workshop)
Location: CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics at UCF, 4304 Scorpius Street, Orlando.
- 3-Day Summer Workshop, plus 2 follow up days during the school year that will include tours, activities, and talks from researchers
- A set of lab supplies with lesson plans for your students.
- $1000 stipend ($600 for 3-Day Summer Workshop and $400 for 2 Academic Year Workshops.)
- A set of career resources for students
- Exclusive access to resources at CREOL.
- Become part of our advisory network for years to come and advocate for photonics.
- Funding for substitute teacher coverage, if requested by school
- Parking provided
- Lunch provided
Activities
Day 1:
- Electronics and Light: The Field Of Photonics
- Build a Telescope: The Basics of Optics, Light, Waves, and Image Formation
Day 2:
- Laser Safety
- Spectral Analysis and how it is used from measuring pollution to solving crimes.
- Free Space Optical Communication: Fiber Optics without the Fiber
Day 3:
- Accessible Optics: Advanced Optics with Printed Materials
- Interferometry: From the Micro to the Macro
- Learning about careers and education in photonics
- Lab Tours
- Industry Applications
- Career Panel hosted by National Ignition Facility
- Research Talks
- And More!
Eligibility
- Must be a public or charter high school science teacher in Florida, grades 9-12.
- Have at least 2 years of science teaching experience.
- Commit to teaching in the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
- Have a letter of support from a principal or designee at your school indicating you can attend the two academic year workshops. They should also indicate if they are requesting funding for substitutes.
Apply to become a Teacher Ambassador.
We will notify those accepted to the program no later than April 1, 2025.
Laser and Photonic Summer Camp in the News
Learn about our Summer Camp that we hold for high school students.
For more information, contact
Mike McKee
(407) 823-6376
mmckee@creol.ucf.edu