- Year 2022
- NSF Noyce Award # 1758406
- First Name Kenneth
- Last Name Smith
- Discipline Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics
- Co-PI(s)
Angela Chapman
- Presenters
Kenneth Smith, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Need
This project focuses on recruiting undergraduate majors in science and mathematics and preparing them to become secondary science and mathematics teachers in high-need school districts in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and surrounding areas. This project has the potential to increase understanding of factors that contribute to the successful recruitment and retention of STEM teachers, particularly those serving in largely Hispanic populations.
Goals
What strategies result in the successful recruitment of science and mathematics majors to become teachers? What is the nature of the teacher preparation program?
Approach
Strategies describing the recruitment of science and mathematics majors to become teachers, including e-mails, posters, and word-of-mouth methods are presented. In addition, the nature of the teacher preparation program, which is a UTeach replication site, is presented.
Outcomes
In the first four years of the project, sixty-one science and mathematics majors were recruited into the project, and forty-eight science and mathematics majors have graduated. Recruitment is ongoing, and evaluation of the project outcomes is also ongoing.
Broader Impacts
Broader impacts of this project focus on increasing the number of science and mathematics teachers teaching in high-need school districts.
