The School of Education at Fayetteville State University (FSU) received funding to implement a grant that will increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educators to the region.
The $1.18 million Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Grant, authorized under the National Science Foundation, will provide scholarships to FSU’s junior and senior math and science education majors who commit to teaching at the middle and secondary levels in high-need school districts. As a historically black university, FSU serves a large number of underrepresented minority students. Among the goals of the program:
- Increase interest of freshmen and sophomores in middle and secondary school math and science education through participation in learning communities and summer paid internship programs both at FSU and at partner community colleges.
- Increase the number of students double majoring in a STEM content and secondary education, including middle school majors concentrating in science and math education.
- Assist new teachers in the first two years of their induction as active teachers in high-need school districts.
The grant will also support a program of ongoing mentoring and continuing professional development. From attracting young students to the STEM teaching profession through teacher training, to supporting new mature professionals, this comprehensive program will provide 66 new STEM teachers to a region in great need of STEM educators.
The School of Education will partner with the Mathematics and Science Education Center and the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science, Chemistry and Physics, and Biological Sciences in the delivery of this STEM initiative.