PA College Gets $1 Million Grant for STEM Teacher Training Program

To help increase the number of qualified secondary STEM instructors, Westminster College in Pennsylvania has received a $1 million grant for its IQ  STEM teacher training program.

The grant was made through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program of the National Science Foundation, which focuses on encouraging science and math majors to become secondary educators and supports scholarships and academic programs at various colleges of education.

At Westminster, the grant is expected to help increase the number of qualified STEM teachers in western Pennsylvania by more than 50 percent, with a cohort of 20 educators specialized in teaching in areas of high need at the end of five years.

The college plans to offer related workshops, research projects, and a course "designed to address the racial, cultural, and economic needs of school districts trying to narrow the achievement gap," according to the school. It will also collaborate with local, high need school districts in surrounding areas and offer a scholarship for undergrad STEM majors who can commit to teaching in high need districts.

About the Author

Stephen Noonoo is an education technology journalist based in Los Angeles. He is on Twitter @stephenoonoo.

Featured

  • open laptop with data streams

    OpenAI Launches AI-Powered Web Browser Built Around User Context

    OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Atlas, a standalone browser that places ChatGPT at the heart of everyday web activity. This release represents a major expansion of the company's efforts to reshape how users search, browse, and complete tasks online.

  • Red alert symbols and email icons floating in a dark digital space

    Google Cloud Report: Cyber Attackers Are Fully Embracing AI

    According to Google Cloud's 2026 Cybersecurity Forecast, AI will become standard for both attackers and defenders, with threats expanding to virtualization systems, blockchain networks, and nation-state operations.

  • Hand holding a stylus over a tablet with futuristic risk management icons

    Why Universities Are Ransomware's Easy Target: Lessons from the 23% Surge

    Academic environments face heightened risk because their collaboration-driven environments are inherently open, making them more susceptible to attack, while the high-value research data they hold makes them an especially attractive target. The question is not if this data will be targeted, but whether universities can defend it swiftly enough against increasingly AI-powered threats.

  • abstract blocks of technology

    Reimagining Software Access to Transform the Student Experience

    Software access is a strategic priority — not a technical afterthought. Success depends on faculty engagement, institution-wide collaboration, and a clear focus on student outcomes.