Addressing the STEM Teacher Shortage through an Inclusive STEM Teacher Education Pipeline

包容性STEM教师教育管道项目(ISTEP)旨在满足国家需要，在高需求学校增加高素质初中和高中STEM教师的数量，包括来自不同背景的教师。缺乏有执照的STEM教师，特别是代表高需求学校大多数学生的人口背景的教师，是一个严重的问题，影响到明尼苏达州东南部以及全国。明尼苏达圣玛丽大学将通过招收更多优秀学生，包括来自不同背景的学生，进入其STEM+教育双学位课程和教学文学硕士课程，以解决这一问题。这24名准教师将准备在STEM教师日益短缺、师生之间存在严重种族差距的州的高需求学校任教。预计ISTEP学者在STEM教学方面的准备和指导将提高他们未来中学生的STEM成绩，并为STEM的大专学习和职业生涯做好准备。该项目在明尼苏达圣玛丽大学与威诺纳地区公立学区(一个高需求学区)和罗切斯特STEM学院合作，为来自高需求社区的学生提供服务。在这个五年期项目中，项目目标将包括：(1)增加致力于在明尼苏达州东南部急需的地方教育机构(LEA)任教的不同背景的中学STEM教师的数量；(2)通过将ISTEP项目的关键组成部分制度化，加强致力于在明尼苏达州东南部急需的地方教育机构(LEA)任教的不同背景的中学STEM教师的渠道；(3)促进与招聘、准备和保留来自不同背景的中学STEM教师有关的知识库。该项目的24名优秀准教师(13名本科生和11名硕士)将获得(1)双学位，其中一个学位是生物、化学或数学学士学位，另一个是中等教育学位(简称STEM+教育)；或(2)已经拥有STEM学科的学士学位，并将获得教学文学硕士学位(MAT)。ISTEP奖学金招聘将包括一套针对本科生和STEM专业人员的不同战略。学者辅导将在认知辅导框架内实施。一名外部评估员将协助ISTEP管理团队在招聘、准备和保留来自不同背景的中学STEM教师方面推进知识前沿。通过培养持有STEM领域执照的不同背景的教师来提高中学一级的科学教育质量，最终将有助于建立一支具有全球竞争力的多元化STEM劳动力队伍。这个Track 1：奖学金和津贴项目由罗伯特·诺伊斯教师奖学金计划(Noyce)提供支持。Noyce计划支持有才华的STEM本科专业和专业人员成为有效的K-12 STEM教师，并支持经验丰富、模范的K-12教师成为高需求学区的STEM硕士教师。它还支持对高需求学区K-12 STEM教师的有效性和留住的研究。这一奖项反映了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。

The Inclusive STEM Teacher Education Pipeline (ISTEP) project aims to serve the national need to increase the number of highly qualified middle and high school STEM teachers, including those from diverse backgrounds, in high-need schools. The shortage of licensed STEM teachers, particularly teachers representing the demographic backgrounds of most students in high-need schools, is a serious problem that affects southeastern Minnesota as well as the nation. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will address this problem by recruiting more high-achieving students, including those from diverse backgrounds, into its STEM+Education dual degree program and Master of Arts in Teaching program. These 24 prospective teachers will be prepared to teach in high-need schools in a state with a growing STEM teacher shortage and significant racial disparity between teachers and students. It is anticipated that ISTEP Scholars’ preparation and mentorship in STEM teaching will improve their future secondary students’ STEM achievement and readiness for post-secondary learning and careers in STEM.This project at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is in partnership with Winona Area Public School District, a high-need school district and the Rochester STEM Academy, which serves students from high-need communities. Over the five year project, project goals will include: (1) increasing the number of secondary STEM teachers from diverse backgrounds committed to teaching in high-need local education agencies (LEAs) in southeastern Minnesota; (2) strengthening the pipeline of secondary STEM teachers from diverse backgrounds committed to teaching in high-need LEAs in southeastern Minnesota by institutionalizing the key ISTEP project components of recruiting, preparing, and supporting retention of diverse, high-quality secondary STEM teachers in high-need LEA schools; and (3) contributing to the knowledge base related to recruitment, preparation, and retention of secondary STEM teachers from diverse backgrounds. The project's 24 high-achieving prospective teachers (13 undergraduates and 11 at the master’s degree level) will either (1) obtain dual degrees, with one degree being a baccalaureate degree in biology, chemistry, or mathematics, and the other in secondary education (referred to as STEM+Education); or (2) will already possess a baccalaureate degree in a STEM discipline and will earn a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). ISTEP Scholar recruitment will include a diverse set of strategies for both undergraduates and STEM professionals. Scholar mentoring will be implemented within a Cognitive Coaching framework. An external evaluator will assist the ISTEP management team in advancing the frontiers of knowledge in recruitment, preparation, and retention of secondary STEM teachers from diverse backgrounds. Improving the quality of science education at the secondary level by preparing teachers of diverse backgrounds licensed in STEM fields will ultimately contribute to a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce. This Track 1: Scholarships and Stipends project is supported through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce). The Noyce program supports talented STEM undergraduate majors and professionals to become effective K-12 STEM teachers and experienced, exemplary K-12 teachers to become STEM master teachers in high-need school districts. It also supports research on the effectiveness and retention of K-12 STEM teachers in high-need school districts.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.