Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State associate professor is the principal investigator for a new National Science Foundation grant of more than $880,000 to increase the number of talented mathematics and science teachers.
Linda Coats of the College of Education's department of leadership and foundations is lead researcher for the NSF-funded Robert Noyce Scholarship Program at the university.
The program is designed to increase science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals leading the seventh-12th grades. Those selected for the awards and stipends are required to complete two years of teaching in a "high-need" school district for each year of support received.
During the grant's five years, 20 undergraduate scholars will receive $10,000 per year. They also must double-major in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics or engineering, and science or math education. Additionally, the grant funds six $15,000 stipends to professionals in those fields pursuing a master of arts degree in teaching at the secondary level.
"This project displays our passion about ensuring that every classroom in Mississippi has a highly qualified and effective teacher," Coats said. "This can be achieved with teachers who are intimately aware of educational theory, equipped with appropriate pedagogical skills and thoroughly familiar with science and math content."
Overall, Coats said the program has the potential to reach about 7,000 students in high-need Mississippi public schools.
Researchers from the education college, Bagley College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences are collaborating on the grant. Co-project investigators include Burnette Hamil, an associate professor of curriculum, instruction and special education; Svein Saebo, a professor of chemistry; Dana Franz, an associate professor of curriculum, instruction and special education; and Tommy Stevenson, the engineering college's assistant dean of diversity programs and student development.
Coats said area school districts involved in the project include Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties, and Starkville and West Point. Summer internships at the schools, as well as university summer and community educational programs, will be used to assist with recruiting students into the scholarship program, she added.
The Noyce Scholars Program was created in 2002.
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NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS; For more information, contact Dr. Coats at 662-325-2416 or ltc1@ra.msstate.edu.