VolsTeach for Appalachia: Strengthening the STEM Teacher Pathway from Community College to East Tennessee High-need School Districts

这个项目被称为阿巴拉契亚VolsTeach(VFA)，是诺克斯维尔田纳西大学的Robert Noyce Track 1项目。该项目旨在帮助满足全国对能够在不同农村学校环境中服务的新STEM教师的需求。为了实现这一目标，田纳西大学诺克斯维尔分校将与佩利西比州立社区学院(PSCC)威尔和东田纳西五个学区(安德森县、坎贝尔县、克莱伯恩县、勒诺尔伯特县和塞维尔县)合作。VFA的目标是通过支持社区大学生成为STEM教师来增长和多样化STEM教师队伍。东田纳西地区位于阿巴拉契亚的心脏地带，数学和科学教师持续短缺，许多退休教师的情况越来越严重。VFA将支持32名从PSCC招聘的高潜力诺伊斯·阿巴拉契亚学者，他们将成为STEM教师。学者们将把他们至少头四年的教学工作投入到高需求的学区。VFA旨在通过招收学生并为他们提供暑期实习、增强的课程学习、学术支持和课外体验来实现这一目标。该项目的研究成果和经验教训将在全国范围内分享，以帮助满足对高度准备的STEM教师的需求，这些教师将教授和激励下一代STEM专业人员和问题解决者。通过有效地将田纳西大学与PSCC教师联系起来，VFA旨在挑选社区学院的学生作为诺伊斯·阿巴拉契亚奖学金获得者，并支持他们完成STEM专业的学士学位，辅修教育学，并获得教学认证。学者将在硕士教师、STEM教员和STEM教育教员的指导下完成该项目。VFA的招聘计划将包括在PSCC提供STEM教与学课程，以及为期四周的暑期实习，旨在激发一年级学生对STEM教学的热爱。VFA的课程发展将包括调整课程重点，以支持学习与文化相关的教育学。为学者提供的其他计划支持将包括学术指导、补充指导、转学指导、内容领域顾问、教育顾问和课外体验。学者将获得为期两年的奖学金支持，以及社区学习和建设以及量身定做的支持。VFA旨在为教师准备、招聘和留任方面的知识库做出贡献，特别是在高需求学区。该项目的研究内容将侧重于：(1)与响应文化的教学有关的身份认同；(2)STEM师资培养的VFA模式研究。这种研究有可能为课程设计和资源提供信息，以支持职前教师学习和认同与文化相关的教育学。项目成果和研究成果将在全州和全国范围内通过出版物、会议演示和其他交流进行传播。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project, referred to as VolsTeach for Appalachia (VFA), is a Robert Noyce Track 1 project at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The project aims to help meet the national need for new STEM teachers who can serve in diverse rural school settings. To accomplish this goal, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will collaborate with Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC) will and five East Tennessee school districts (Anderson County, Campbell County, Claiborne County, Lenoir Count, and Sevier County). The goal of VFA is to grow and diversify the STEM teacher workforce by supporting community college students to become STEM teachers. Located in the heart of Appalachia, the East Tennessee region is experiencing a persistent shortage in mathematics and science teachers that is increasingly compounded by many retiring teachers. VFA will support 32 high-potential Noyce Appalachian Scholars, recruited from PSCC, as they become STEM teachers. Scholars will devote at least their first four years of teaching to high-need school districts. VFA aims to accomplish this goal by recruiting students and providing them with summer internships, enhanced coursework, academic supports, and out-of-classroom experiences. The research results and lessons learned from this project will be shared nationally to help address the need for highly prepared STEM teachers who will teach and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals and problem solvers. By effectively connecting University of Tennessee with PSCC faculty, VFA aims to select community college students as Noyce Appalachian Scholars, and support them to complete a bachelor's degree in a STEM major with a minor in education and receive a teaching certification. Scholars will complete the program under the guidance of master teachers, STEM faculty, and STEM education faculty. VFA's recruitment plan will include delivery of a STEM Teaching and Learning course at PSCC, along with a four-week summer internship that aims to inspire first-year students' love of STEM teaching. VFA's program development will include refocusing coursework to support learning about Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. Additional program supports for Scholars will include academic coaches, supplemental instruction, transfer coaches, content area advisors, education advisors, and out-of-classroom experiences. Scholars will receive scholarship support for two years, along with community learning and building and tailored supports. VFA aims to contribute to the knowledge base about teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention, especially in high-need school districts. The project's research components will focus on: (1) identity in relation to culturally responsive teaching; and (2) the study of the VFA model of STEM teacher preparation. Such research has the potential to inform coursework design and resources that support preservice teachers' learning of and identification with culturally relevant pedagogy. Project outcomes and research results will be disseminated statewide and nationally in publications, conference presentations, and other communications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.