The Noyce Program was instrumental in helping us recruit and produce new STEM teachers. This short video will provide an overview of the program with data charts and some classroom footage. I apologize if the first slide takes about a minute…I am a rookie filmmaker. The rest of the video should be very informative. If you have any strategies or suggestions for recruiting STEM teachers, please feel free to share during the session.

Sounds like a very interesting project: I like the emphasis on supporting induction teachers in such a way that they assume the role of mentor after they are grounded in their practice.
A few times the video refers to the particular needs or characteristics of these rural students – what are some of the key ones that are challenges for a new teacher? Is the experience different for a teacher who’s from the area?

The biggest instructional challenge for rural STEM teachers is being the lone science or math teacher for a grade level or even multiple grade levels. For children the biggest challenge seems to be access to advanced courses in STEM.

Thanks Michael for sharing your work! We are in dire need of more STEM teachers nationally and in Texas. Are participants using particular instructional approaches or lesson models in their teaching?

Thanks for sharing your work! Sounds like a great program. I’m sure that being the lone science or math teacher for several grade levels in a rural school would come with all kinds of challenges. What sorts of ongoing supports help those rural STEM teachers succeed?

What a nice surprise to see your video and learn about your current work. The rural needs are still not getting enough attention and your work can inform others.

Great to hear about your work! Can you further describe the mentoring program and the training for leadership roles?

Lots of great questions.
1. Instructional Methods: Our preservice teachers complete the UTeach Curriculum. There is a heavy emphasis on PBL and other inquiry approaches. The following link outlines the program: https://institute.uteach.utexas.edu/curriculum-...

2. All teachers that finish the program have the option of participating in online or live induction/ mentoring. Keeping contact has been very important for many of the new teachers since many are somewhat isolated due to the small size of their districts.
3. Our mentoring program approach varies by distance. Basically, our Master Teachers keep in contact and we also invite them all to participate in our funded teacher PD. We train our mentors in a Teacher residency model that is translated for new teachers.

Mike, it’s good to see that you’re still out there doing good work. The video mentions that students go into classrooms from the get go. Besides the 10 week summer program and mentoring, do they receive any additional PD?

They do. They also attend the same PD their clinical teachers attend depending on the class..