- Year 2017
- NSF Noyce Award # 1660615
- First Name John
- Last Name Pecore
- Discipline Other: STEM, STEM
- Co-PI(s)
Jaromy Kuhl, jkuhl@uwf.edu
Kirk Bradley, kbradley@pensacolastate.edu
Sean Psujek, psujeks@nwfsc.edu - Presenters
John Pecore, University of West Florida, jpecore@uwf.edu
Jaromy Kuhl, University of West Florida, jkuhl@uwf.edu
Kirk Bradley, Pensacola State College, kbradley@pensacolastate.edu
Sean Psujek, Northwest Florida State College, psujeks@nwfsc.edu
Melissa Demetrikopoulos, Institute for Biomedical Philosophy, mdemetr@biophi.org
Need
The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) reports that middle and high school science and math teachers are listed as critical shortage areas. For the 2012-2013 school year there were 124 science vacancies and 118 math vacancies in Florida with a projected increase over time. The highest portions of critical teacher shortages exist within urban and rural low-economic schools, which describe the majority of high needs schools in the counties served by UWF and its partners. Moreover, high needs schools have higher percentages of out-of-field teachers as compared to the statewide average (FLDOE, Identification of Critical Teacher Shortages, 2013). This challenge has become even more severe due to increased math and science graduation requirements for four math courses, including Algebra 1 and Geometry, and three science courses, including Biology 1 and two other rigorous laboratory-based classes.
Goals
The goals of the project are as follows: 1) Recruiting highly qualified STEM majors into the UWF-Teach NSP. 2) Increasing the number and quality of certified STEM grades 6-12 teachers in Northwest Florida. 3) Supporting graduates of UWF-Teach, and Noyce Teacher Scholar recipients, in the workplace to increase success and retention.
Approach
Early in their program, students will complete an experience-embedded-recruitment course focused on education themes and ideas while introducing students to a career in middle and secondary teaching. The creation of the UWF-Teach learning community, consisting of faculty, students, and experienced middle and high school STEM teachers (Master Mentors), will assist in supporting UWF-Teach students and graduates as they develop a professional identity. UWF-Teach faculty and Master Mentors will continue to participate in the Content focused coaching professional development created as part of the Noyce Scholarship capacity building grant. The creation of the UWF-Teach learning community, consisting of faculty, students, and experienced middle and high school STEM teachers (Master Mentors), will assist in supporting UWF-Teach students and graduates as they develop a professional identity. UWF-Teach NSP scholars participate in a citizen-based education research project.
Outcomes
This program expands the partnerships with Pensacola State College (PSC), Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC), STEM master teachers, informal STEM learning centers, and two area school districts (Escambia and Okaloosa counties) that were developed during the capacity building grant and which created a much needed infrastructure for recruiting and retaining 18 new highly qualified STEM teachers for grades 6-12 serving both urban and rural low-economic high needs schools in the Northwest Florida region. The UWF-Teach NSP project will achieve the following major outcomes: 1) Increase the number of highly qualified, certified Grades 6-12 STEM teachers in Northwest Florida by graduating an average of four Noyce Teacher Scholars per year. 2) Work with school district partners to retain UWF-Teach NSP graduates in teaching.
Broader Impacts
UWF-Teach NSP will recruit and retain a total of 18 new highly qualified STEM majors over a five-year period to pursue a career as a grades 6-12 STEM teacher in a high needs school district in the Northwest Florida region. Each highly qualified UWF-Teach NSP scholar will work with an average of 150 different students each year for a total of approximately 750 students every five years; therefore, 18 UWF-Teach NSP Scholars will impact an estimated 13,500 students every five years in high needs school districts. Working with the district, graduates will receive additional support to ensure their success as a novice teacher increasing the likelihood that UWF-Teach NSP scholars will remain in the teaching profession beyond five years and thus impact thousands of students.
