Augustana awarded $1.2 million grant for future math and science teachers

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has once again awarded Augustana College a research and development grant to help prepare future math and science educators for their teaching careers. The latest grant awards $1.2 million through 2029. 

The NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program aims to prepare students to teach in high-need schools by matching them with partner schools and providing supplementary professional development in working with diverse student populations. 

Scholars in the program complete a research project with a STEM faculty mentor in the summer between their junior and senior years. STEM subjects include science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Augustana grant is administered by Dr. Mike Egan, education professor and department chair; Dr. Nathan Frank, professor of physics; Dr. Mike Schroeder, professor of education; and Dr. Scott Gehler, associate professor of biology. 

Dr. Egan said the majority of the $1.2 million newly awarded funding will go directly to scholarship funds for future STEM teachers who commit to teaching in high-need schools for at least four years. The average scholarship per pre-service teacher is $44,000. 

Augustana received a $1.1 million Noyce grant in 2020, and that funding benefitted 16 future STEM teachers. Grant administrators hope to issue scholarships to a total of 32 students from the total $2.3 million awarded by Noyce. The program seeks to recruit an average of four scholars per year. 

Dr. Egan, who started his career teaching high school math in high-need schools, said that the experience helped him see the impact teachers have in locations with high poverty rates, and especially in math classrooms, which are often directly connected to student confidence and opportunities beyond high school. 

“My experience of teaching math in a high-need setting inspired me to get into teacher education, where I can work with other teachers who will have strong impacts in their own classrooms,” he said. “It is such a blessing to have the financial resources of the NSF Noyce grant to help draw more caring and competent teachers into high-need schools.”

Provost Dr. Dianna Shandy said Augustana is committed to preparing engaged future teachers equipped to make a difference.

“We’re grateful to the Noyce program for continuing to invest in the next generation of skilled teachers for communities who need them the most,” said Dr. Shandy. “Augustana’s teacher preparation program is well-respected, and we’re thrilled to have this funding support our key values of developing educational leaders with a heart for their communities.”