bringing more STEM TEACHERS to the classroom

MSUM’S NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDES FULL SUPPORT

Words by Lexi Byler, MSUM Marketing

| Photography by Dave Arntson, MSUM Photographer

The STEM fields of science, math, engineering and technology have historically struggled with filling teaching positions. With a shortage of math and science teachers across the nation, including Minnesota, MSUM is helping to bridge that gap.

To meet this high need, MSUM received a $1.19 million grant from the Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Program through the National Science Foundation (NSF) to recruit and support students to become K-12 teachers in high-need school districts. The average support for a scholar is $12,700 for the academic year. The five-year grant expires in November 2020.

“I was incredibly happy to know we can help supply our region with 35 additional science and math teachers who, in turn, will be fully funded and mentored to become our future STEM education leaders,” says Dr. Alison Wallace, one of six faculty members working with the grant.

While other universities have received the same grant, MSUM is unique in requiring scholars to take a teaching english as a second language (TESL) course. This extra training is especially important as more new Americans are locating to our region.

“For students whose first language isn’t English, it may not be that they don’t understand the material but that they don’t know how to communicate that understanding,” says Ashley Borchardt, an MSUM mathematics and mathematics education major.

Teaching math to non-English speaking students piqued her interest after her study-abroad trip to Taiwan where she spent three weeks in the classroom. The school had an English enrichment program where students would not only take math classes in Mandarin Chinese, but also in English. The combination of her experience in Taiwan and taking the required TESL course inspired her to pursue a degree in TESL as well. Without the financial support the Noyce scholarship program provided her she wouldn’t have the means to add a third major.

Christina Aigner graduated from NDSU with a degree in agricultural economics and worked in finance for 12 years before taking time off to care for her children. When she decided to go into teaching, she immediately looked into MSUM because of its renowned teaching program.

“MSUM has exceeded my expectations. I wasn’t sure if it would feel as valuable because it’s a smaller school, but it’s better. Teachers are so invested in helping students succeed,” Aigner says.

In contrast to Aigner, Evangeline Holley is an MSUM alumna who graduated with a degree in biology. Her parents both teach in MSUM’s anthropology and earth science department, so science has always been an interest to her. She originally wanted to become a teacher but was persuaded not to after being encouraged to pursue a career focused on research. After graduating, she realized her passion was really in science education.

“I started to think about what my passions really were and I realized I was more passionate about teaching than doing research,” says Holley.

In addition to full financial support and training in TESL, the mentorship received through the program has proved to be just as valuable. A team of faculty oversees the scholars and meets with them every other week.

“The mentorships are one of the best things about the program. I’ve gotten so many opportunities from the faculty that I’d never know about otherwise,” says Aigner.

These opportunities, all of which are fully funded through the program, range from attending various conferences to visiting the Kennedy Space Center and other NSF events.

With the experience gained through the Noyce scholorship program, these women each hope to impact a small community in a big way. With the support of the team of faculty who oversees the scholars, the financial assistance the program provides, and the additional resources and opportunities given to them, they will leave MSUM prepared to better our education system.