WILLIAMSBURG — The William & Mary School of Education announced it recently received a boost from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance the recruitment and retention of STEM teachers.
According to the university, the $1.2 million award, presented to Associate Professor and Pavey Family Co-Chair in Instructional Technology Meredith Kier, ensures support for the Noyce Scholars Program for the next five years.
The W&M Noyce Scholars Program is an integral part of the university’s efforts to address the national shortage of highly qualified K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers, provides substantial scholarships to students interested in teaching math and science, it said. Noyce Scholars commit to teaching at a high-need school district for two years per year of funding, after earning their math/science teacher certification. The program’s aim is to enhance the quality of STEM education and foster educational equity, according to William & Mary.
With the grant, Kier has been named as the new principal investigator (PI) of the program. Kier, who brings expertise in equity in STEM education and the preparation and retention of social-justice-oriented science teachers, has been a part of the W&M School of Education faculty since 2015 and joined the Noyce Scholars Program as co-PI at the same time.
Kier also directs the secondary science teaching program at the School of Education, co-directs the Center for Innovation in Learning Design and contributes extensively to research in the field, the university noted.
“I am honored to lead the Noyce Scholarship Program at William & Mary,” said Kier. “This grant will enable us to continue our mission of preparing highly skilled and passionate STEM educators who are committed to making a difference in high-need schools.”
The grant will fund the recruitment, preparation and support of 25 new STEM teachers over the next five years, the university said. The W&M Noyce Scholars Program also includes professional development and mentoring opportunities for current Noyce Scholars and alumni of the program, including funding to attend annual NSF-funded conferences, monthly mentoring meetings between new and veteran teachers and scholarship opportunities.
“One of our defining priorities at the School of Education is to build strong, just institutions by providing equality of educational opportunity for all, especially those who have been underserved,” said Dean Robert C. Knoeppel. “Dr. Kier’s work with the Noyce Scholars program is a prime example.”