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

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Highlight Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warnings about the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • various technology icons including a cloud, AI chip, and padlock shield above a laptop displaying charts and cloud data

    AI-Focused Data Security Report Identifies Cloud Governance Gaps

    A new Varonis data security report notes that excessive permissions and AI-driven risks are leaving cloud environments dangerously exposed.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    OpenAI Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • student reading a book with a brain, a protective hand, a computer monitor showing education icons, gears, and leaves

    4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation

    Researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education.