More than 60 teachers from 35 schools will get free training and support during the Wiregrass Math, Science and Technology Leadership Academy starting July 13 in the Harrison Room at Troy University’s Dothan Campus.

The Academy, in its seventh year, is sponsored by TROY and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and is aimed at providing quality professional development for teachers in the areas of math, science and technology.

The Academy features workshops for teachers of various age groups from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 13-14 and 17-19.

Workshops include hands-on experiments designed for use in the classroom, discussions about useful teaching practices and more.

Ryan Richards, the director of the Southeast Alabama Workforce Development, will work with teachers at the Academy. His group will conduct follow-up sessions in November and February, taking teachers out to local businesses to see the jobs available in the Wiregrass and the skills students will need to obtain them.

TROY is also working with the Civil Air Patrol, whose aerospace education manager will speak on the first day of the Academy. The Academy is paying for the teachers to become Aerospace Education members, which will make them eligible for 10 free STEM kits.

The Academy will feature appearances by the Dothan Police Bomb Squad robot on July 17 and a Dothan EMS helicopter on July 18.