Applications Now Open for NSF/Noyce Fellows Who Want to Become Science and Math Teachers

Shannon Magsam

Noyce Fellows Samantha Middleton and Ty Murdoch

A U of A faculty team was awarded a $1.45 million National Science Foundation grant earlier this year to prepare secondary math and science teachers for success in high-need school districts across the nation as part of the Noyce program.

Applications are now open for a second cohort to begin study in June 2022.

The fellowships include paid in-state tuition and fees to support completing the 11-month Master of Arts in Teaching degree, leading to Arkansas teacher licensure. Fellows also receive a $10,000 annual stipend for each of their first four years of teaching in a qualified school district of their choice.

Eight Noyce Fellows were accepted into the first cohort in June 2021.

Noyce Fellows are mentored by university scientists and mathematicians, experiencing hands-on science and mathematics learning at the Amazeum museum in Bentonville, and working with students to prepare projects for entry into upcoming science, mathematics and engineering fairs or STEM expos while intern teaching in the Springdale Public Schools. These strategies are related to the goal of helping this next generation of teachers share experiences that communicate how science really works and increase their agency or ability and identity in the practices of science and mathematics. They can then pass on these skills and interests to their future students.

The fellows recently attended a U of A workshop at the Center for Math and Science Education (CMASE) for teachers across the region who are planning to participate in STEM expos and science fairs this school year. Oklahoma native and Noyce Fellow Samantha Middleton attended with her public school mentor.

During the pandemic last year, Middleton volunteered to meet with classes via Zoom to teach short lessons through Nepris, a platform that connects industry professionals with classrooms. She also worked as a substitute teacher at schools in Rogers and Fayetteville.

"I found out I was passionate about teaching," she said. "This fellowship has opened the door for me to teach in schools that need the most support and to reach students who need the best teachers."

The paid tuition component of the Noyce fellowship has allowed Middleton, who has a bachelor's degree in botanical science and a minor in fisheries and wildlife science, to focus exclusively on her studies in the university's M.A.T. program. Previously, she had to work various jobs to support her education.

"This fellowship will allow me to work in high-needs schools without the fear of financial insecurities as I get started," she said. "I can return to Oklahoma now confident that I'll be able to focus solely on teaching and making an impact, instead of stressing about how I will afford things for my classroom and making ends meet."

Middleton, who is Native American, hopes to teach middle school science after earning her master's degree in May 2022. As part of the U of A graduate program, she learns from a public-school mentor teacher throughout the year.

Ty Murdoch, a native Arkansan and U of A graduate with a degree in biology, worked in New Hampshire as a botanist with the U.S. Forest Service when he applied for the fellowship opportunity.

"I decided I wanted a career change," he said. "I want to be a teacher."

Murdoch, 32, has traveled extensively for other jobs and enjoys new experiences. "This will be a completely new adventure," he said.

William F. McComas, Kim McComas, Laura Kent and Stephen Burgin, from the College of Education and Health Professions, and Shannon Dingman, from the Mathematics Department in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, developed the successful proposal for the teaching fellowship: Teacher Enhancement of Agency and Authenticity in Mathematics and Science (TEAAMS).

McComas, Parks Family Distinguished Professor of Science Education and the project's principal investigator, said, "The project will change fellows' lives, along with those of the students, all while providing a useful platform for research into teacher education practices." McComas said the TEAAMS group would investigate the project's impact on STEM teacher preparation and share findings with fellow educators who prepare mathematics and science teachers.

The TEAAMS faculty members are actively seeking a second group of 10 fellows for the June 2022 cohort. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2022. Additional information is available on the TEAAMS Noyce Teaching Fellowship web page.