- Year 2024
- NSF Noyce Award # 2243169
- First Name Lucas
- Last Name Foster
- Registration Faculty/Administrator/Other
- Discipline Chemistry, Life Sciences, Mathematics
- Role Co-PI
- Presenters
Lucas Foster, Tyler King
Need
The NSU Noyce Scholars Program meets a national need by increasing the number of highly effective secondary STEM teachers in high-need, culturally diverse schools in rural and urban areas of northeastern Oklahoma.
Research Questions
The continuing goals of this program include attracting, preparing, and inspiring prospective teachers to select diverse areas in which to teach upon graduation and will provide scholarships to high-achieving students, significantly reducing the financial burden of becoming a STEM teacher.
Approach
Longitudinal Study with data collected from Noyce scholars at program start, program end, and at end of service teaching years.
Outcomes
This program at Northeastern State University includes partnerships with two K-12 partners, Tahlequah Public Schools, and Union Public Schools, and builds on established partnerships with local community colleges. The project was very successful in the first year with an initial class of 5 Noyce Scholars. Two of these scholars graduated in May 2024 and will be teaching in a STEM field in a high-needs district in Oklahoma. The program will continue to grow in subsequent years through recruitment efforts of the leadership team. Year 2 looks promising with the addition of several Noyce scholars to the current group.
Broader Impacts
The project supports research on the persistence, retention, and effectiveness of K-12 STEM teachers in high-need school districts. In addition, the program utilizes place-based education, immersing students in local heritage as a foundation for learning.
