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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.
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Stephen Noonoo is a reporter, contributing editor and consultant specializing in education technology. He is on Twitter @stephenoonoo.