William Paterson University Awarded $1.05 Million Grant from National Science Foundation to Recruit Math and Science Majors Interested in Teaching in High-Needs Districts

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented undergraduate science and mathematics majors to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers.

William Paterson University has been awarded a five-year, $1,049,996 grant from the National Science Foundation to recruit and train undergraduate science and math majors to teach in high-need school districts.  The University will collaborate on the grant project with Mercer County Community College and the Paterson Public Schools.
  
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented undergraduate science and mathematics majors to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The program provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and academic programs for undergraduate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors who commit to teaching in high-need K-12 school districts.

“I am proud that the National Science Foundation has chosen William Paterson University for this prestigious grant, which builds on our long-standing partnerships and success in preparing teachers in the STEM disciplines as well as teachers for urban schools,” says Kathleen Waldron, president of William Paterson University.  “We are also delighted to expand our partnership with Mercer County Community College as we collaborate to seek additional STEM majors who wish to become teachers.”

With this grant award, William Paterson University intends to recruit at least 24 undergraduate science and mathematics majors into K-12 teaching.  The University will actively seek undergraduate math and science majors interested in becoming teacher candidates, and will also collaborate with Mercer County Community College to recruit transfer students interested in majoring in STEM fields and pursuing teacher certification at the elementary or secondary levels. The project, a joint initiative of the University’s College of Education and College of Science and Health, will be led by Djanna Hill, professor of secondary and middle school education, and Jyoti Champanerkar, associate professor of mathematics.

“I am thrilled that the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program has provided continuing support for future mathematics and science teachers for our partner districts,” says Candace Burns, dean of the College of Education. “Professors Hill and Champanerkar, in collaboration with Mercer County Community College, are highly accomplished faculty within these subject areas who are dedicated to student success.”

Students selected for the program will be eligible for scholarships as well as summer internships, tutoring, and/or teaching assistantships. Students also will be provided with mentoring opportunities which will continue through their first two years of teaching. The University will collaborate with the Paterson Public Schools to provide student teaching and practicum placements.  All students who participate in the program will be required to commit to two years of teaching in a high-needs district for each year of scholarship support.

This grant marks William Paterson’s second award for the Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.  The University received nearly $900,000 in funding in 2009, which provided support for more than 50 students’ preparation as mathematics and science teachers.