- Year 2019
- NSF Noyce Award # 1540704
- First Name Jane
- Last Name Coffee
- Discipline Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
- Co-PI(s)
Irina Lyublinskaya, College of Staten Island, irina.lyublinskaya@csi.cuny.edu; Susan Sullivan, College of Staten Island, susan.sullivan@csi.cuny.edu; Nelly Tournaki, College of Staten Island, nelly.tournaki@csi.cuny.edu
- Presenters
Jane Coffee, College of Staten Island, jane.coffee@csi.cuny.edu; Irina Lyublinskaya, College of Staten Island, irina.lyublinskaya@csi.cuny.edu
Need
In order to judge whether the goal of producing effective STEM teachers is being met it is necessary to track the program graduates and inquire about their effectiveness as teachers. To date (May 2019), there have been 39 Noyce Scholar graduates of the Robert Noyce Teacher Academy at the College of Staten Island. It is important to know in what schools they are teaching and what subjects and to inquire about their professional development post-graduation.
Goals
What questions on an annual survey of Noyce Scholar graduates will elicit responses that provide information about the individual as well as suggestions for improving the program?
Approach
Questions on the annual survey to Noyce Scholar graduates: 1. Are you currently teaching? If yes, at what school and what subject. If no, please explain. 2. How many years have you been teaching? 3. Are you tenured? 4. Please list any honors or fellowships that you have received 5. Have you participated in any Noyce-funded International Teaching Internship? If yes, how did it impact your teaching? 6. Did you participate in the Noyce-funded Summer School Teaching Internship? If yes, what was the most valuable aspect of this program. 7. Please list any outside classroom activities with your students 8. Have you ever recommended a student for admission to the Teacher Education Honors Academy at the College of Staten Island? 9. Please list positions that you have held at your school. 10. Please list what you consider your most important achievement in teaching. 11. What do you wish you knew about teaching before your first day of teaching? 12. What changes would you recommend to the Noyce scholar program?
Outcomes
Findings: To date (May 2019), there have been 39 graduates of the Robert Noyce Teacher Academy at the College of Staten Island. Thirty were math majors—27 are teaching mathematics in 10 different high schools and in 3 different middle schools; 1 is a May 2019 who has been offered a math teaching position beginning in fall 2019; 1 is in graduate school; and 1 is unresponsive. Three were biology majors—teaching in 3 different high schools. Three were chemistry majors—teaching in 3 different high schools. Three were physics majors—2 are teaching in different high schools and 1 is a May 2019 graduate. Findings: All Noyce graduates received tenure when eligible. All who began teaching after graduation continue to be employed as STEM teachers. Some schools have hired a number of the CSI Noyce graduates including one school that has employed 6 Noyce graduates—5 in math and 1 in biology. Noyce graduates have assumed leadership roles at their schools. The quality of the Noyce graduates has guaranteed that principals are eager to hire CSI Noyce graduates.
Broader Impacts
The primary goal of this project is the preparation of excellent STEM teachers who are dedicated professionals in high-need middle and high schools. These teachers impact all their students but they have played additional roles—recruiters of excellent high school students as candidates for the Teacher Academy who may be future Noyce scholars, collaborating teachers for current Noyce scholars during their host school internships, mentors for newly hired Noyce scholars, and sources for likely teaching positions. Excellent teachers are cited as the single most important means to improve student performance. Given that all but one Noyce graduate are teaching in schools that are major feeders for the College of Staten Island, this program has an impact on the undergraduate student body. It highlights the importance of an honors program in teaching within the Staten Island community and hopefully increases respect for the teaching profession.
