Stimulating STEM Teacher Growth

1. Stimulating STEM Teacher Growth Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D. Associate Dean College of Science, Texas A&M University

2. Initial STEM Certifications by Flagship* *Data collected from State Board of Educator Certification Educator/Teacher Counts http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/Reports/prodrpts/rpt_edu_tchr_prod_counts.asp?width=1024&height=768 Initial Certifications includes both Traditional Route and Alternative Route

3. STEM Teacher Production Routes • Middle School Math and Science Program • aggieTEACH Program - (traditional certification with basic degree in mathematics and/or science) • Accelerate Online - (alternative certification with emphasis on on-line instructional modules) • Secondary Post-Baccalaureate Program - (Master’s level course work extending basic mathematics and/or science degrees by one year)

4. aggieTEACH • Introduce profession of education early, immediate and continued use of field experiences • Complete degree/certification within 120 hours or 4 years • Provide scholarship network to support committed students • Involve students with Mentor Teachers throughout preparation • Student chapters of NCTM and NSTA and early exposure to leadership opportunities • Rely on research to update and improve training

5. Letter to All Students from the Dean • Letter sent to all students entering the College 2 weeks prior to New Student Conference: • Welcome from the Dean of Undergraduate Programs • Congratulates incoming students • Esteems profession of teaching • Raises awareness of State/National need • Introduces aggieTEACH Program • Encourages students to consider opportunity to pursue teacher certification (including tuition/fee waivers* for initial course)

6. SCEN 201 Introduction to Teaching as a Profession • Introduces lingo (standards-based instruction, high stakes testing, student centered learning, etc.) • Approval – logistics for students to be in public schools • Identify/recruit mentor teachers • Placement of students (schedule, carpool, content area) • Observe, reflect, journal/blog • Mini-lessons, assist in laboratories, one-on-one tutoring • TRACKING!!!

7. Field Plans & Degree Plans • Degree plans, content courses for certification, and education courses = 120 hours (same as for any other degree in the area) • Plan coursework to allow for appropriate scheduling, completion of pre-requisites, course offerings and access to courses • 1 stop shopping for advising for degrees, required education courses, certification exams, student teaching, etc. • Revisit courses, standards, state law, research and certification exam pass rates on regular basis

8. Incentive$ • Tuition waivers* • Small scholarships at freshmen/sophomore level (NSF Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation) • TEACH grants ($4k/year all four years)** • NSF Noyce Scholarships ($10k/year - junior/senior years)** • **Forgivable loans

9. Staffing STEM Teaching Efforts • Teacher certification and K-12 teaching experience is a must • Graduate Assistants (M.S. and Ph.D. students in math and science education programs) • Advisors • Post-Doctoral Researchers/Research Associates • Budgeted positions are key and essential for leveraging outside investments and sustainability • Student Intern

10. Community • STEM pre-service teachers must feel valued in disciplines that have historically catered to pre-professional and pre-graduate students • Advising sessions targeted for future teachers • Designated advisors that are familiar with degrees, courses and certification requirements • Seminar Series/Hands-On, Make and Takes • aggieTEACH Tutor Program (aTP)

11. Community Cont’d • Student Chapters of NSTA and NCTM • http://www.nsta.org/membership/student.aspx?lid=tnav • http://www.nctm.org/membership/content.aspx?id=7618 • Scholarship Luncheon • Listserv • Professional Development Opportunities

12. Required Education Courses • SCEN 201 (1 hr) – Intro to the Profession • INST 310 (3 hrs) – Special Populations • TEFB 322 (3 hrs) – Teaching as a Profession • TEFB 323 (3 hrs) – Teaching Skills I • TEFB 324 (3 hrs) – Teaching Skills II • TEFB 406/407 ( 3 hrs) – Science/Math Methods • Student Teaching or Internship

13. Entry Points

14. Use of Effective Instructional Strategies Requirement of research experiences Invite pre-service teachers to participate in local professional development: Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching G-Camp Teacher Summit Use Research and PD to Inform Teacher Training

15. Sustainability • Endowments • Teacher Stipends Course Fees • Tuition waivers • Scholarships • Personnel Costs

16. Tracking from 4 different programs (Middle School, aggieTEACH, Accelerate and Post-Baccalaureate Program) State certification data Retention to the profession K12 Student achievement Data Management

17. Institutionalization • College of Science • College of Education/Human Development • College of Agriculture/Life Sciences (Genetics, Biochemistry, Nutrition) • College of Geosciences • College of Engineering • College of Veterinary Medicine • STEM Teacher Education Council established 2011

18. Retention to the Profession • Induction Support • Mentoring • Electronic Platform • Professional Development • Aggie Teacher Network of the Association of Former Students

19. aggieTEACH – It’s Time to Teach

20. For additional information Timothy P. Scott, Ph.D tim@science.tamu.edu Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) www.science.tamu.edu/cmse Texas A&M University, College of Science 979-845-7362 Jose Amaya aggieTEACH, Robert Noyce Scholarship Texas A&M University