Our Founders’ Inspiration & Our History

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Our Founders established this organization based on the conviction that America’s well-being and economic future hinges on bringing new scientists and mathematicians into the workforce, and to recognize the teachers who helped to shape our lives.

C. Harry Knowles Headshot

The Inspiration


The inspiration for the Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles Foundation (which was doing business as the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation, before becoming the Knowles Teacher Initiative in 2017) dates back to 1968, when Mr. C. Harry Knowles founded Metrologic Instruments, Inc. Metrologic became a leader in advanced bar code scanners and a pioneering force in the data capture industry, eventually registering more than 600 patents; Harry is named as the inventor or co-inventor on 388 of those patents. In addition, Harry is named as the principal inventor on 12 patents from his days in the solid state device technical arena, including the 2N2222 (Star Transistor, a device still being produced by the billions every day), and the Mesa Transistor (the key component in virtually all computers produced worldwide in the early 1960s). While looking for talent to employ at Metrologic Instruments, Mr. Knowles noticed a lack of high-quality science and mathematics training among young engineering recruits. This experience spurred his commitment to supporting science and mathematics education.

 

About Our Founders


Mr. C. Harry Knowles* and Mrs. Janet H. Knowles established themselves as philanthropists committed to education beginning in 1985, when Metrologic offered financial support to the American Association of Physics Teachers for the creation of PhysicsBowl, a national contest for high school students. Part of this financial support included providing a free laser to the highest scoring school in each region. In 1999, they established the Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles Foundation based on a strong belief that America’s well-being and economic future hinges on bringing new scientists and mathematicians into the workforce. They also wanted to recognize the teachers who helped to shape their lives. Their goal was, and still is, to increase the quantity of high-quality high school science and mathematics teachers in the United States.

* Mr. C. Harry Knowles passed away on January 7, 2020

The Knowles Community


Our community is comprised of over 500 Teaching and Senior Fellows, along with our Board of Trustees, staff, and Teacher Leader Mentors, all united in their dedication to improving education for students across the United States.

 

Meet Our People

Find Knowles Fellows


Knowles Teaching and Senior Fellows are located across the United States.  Visit our map to find a Fellow in your region by entering your zip code.

 

Locate a Fellow in your region.

Our Story

1999

The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) was established by Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles in 1999 to bring about a greater understanding of science and mathematics in the United States through improved teaching and learning.

2002

The first Teaching Fellowships were awarded to four physics teachers in 2002.

2005

A mathematics strand was added to the Fellowship in 2005, when eight mathematics teachers were awarded Teaching Fellowships.

2007

Three Fellows from the first cohort completed the full five-year program in 2007.

2008

A biological sciences strand was added to the Teaching Fellowship in 2008, when nine biology teachers were awarded Fellowships.

2011

A Senior Fellows Program was developed in order to provide our Fellows continued support after they completed the Teaching Fellowship. The Senior Fellows program was designed to build on and leverage the leadership capacity and national network that we develop through the Teaching Fellows Program.

2014

Knowles launches the  inaugural issue of its journal —Kaleidoscope: Educator Voices and Perspectives. Edited by Knowles Senior Fellows, Kaleidoscope shares stories from teachers about teaching, leading and learning.

2017

KSTF changed its name to the Knowles Teacher Initiative and launched the Knowles Academy in 2017.

2018

The organization launches the Knowles Academy. Professional learning for teachers, by teachers.

2019

The organization was founded in 1999 and celebrates its 20th Anniversary!

2021

The Knowles Academy launches 90-minute online workshops for all teachers.

2024

The Knowles Teacher Initiative hosts is first annual conference where STEM educators, leaders, and experts gathered to discuss the many facets of teaching.