June 16, 2017
University program designed to address qualified math, science teacher shortage
NevadaTeach offers STEM majors interested in secondary education a dual degree without added cost or time, ensuring practiced teachers enter the classroom
RENO, Nev. – In an effort to address teacher shortages and increase teacher retention, students in STEM disciplines at the University of Nevada, Reno have the opportunity to earn a secondary teaching certification along with their degree through a program called NevadaTeach.
NevadaTeach, which began in fall 2015, has enrolled 141students as of spring 2017, with numbers growing each semester. The program, part of the national UTeach replication program, is an interdisciplinary effort between the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources; College of Education;and College of Science. Its focus is on developing highly proficient math and science teachers.
As part of the NevadaTeach program, students take two classes within their first two semesters at the University: Step 1 and Step 2. The classes are designed to place University STEM majors in the classroom almost immediately. Students will teach three times and observe the teacher twice during the Step 1 course. This allows students to gain meaningful context for their coursework and provides them with the opportunity to decide early in the process if classroom teaching is the right fit for them.
“At the beginning of Step 1, I had never been in a classroom before to actually observe and then eventually teach,” Travis Hickox, a University senior majoring in NevadaTeachatmospheric science who anticipates being among the first cohort of NevadaTeach graduates in Spring 2018, said. “You have to start somewhere, and that is exactly what this class is for. By being in the classroom, I got an idea of the kind of teacher I am and got ideas for the teacher I want to be for my learners one day.”
NevadaTeach is currently supported by three full-time Master Teachers, Megan Beckam,Glenn Waddell and Mandi Collins. A fourth Master Teacher, Nicholas Nemsgern, will begin in fall 2017.All are highly qualified former middle or high school teachers. In their roles, they teach courses, supervise student field experiences and support University students progressing through the NevadaTeach program. They are also committed to students for two years after graduation, serving as mentors for those beginning their teaching journey. These Master Teachers also actively seek out Washoe County School District teacher partnerships and collaboration.
“The goal of this program is to produce passionate educators who are willing to think differentlyabout what it means to teach,” Beckam said. “NevadaTeach students will teach a variety of age groups before they graduate, which offers them a realistic understanding for what to expect in the classroom. Just as importantly, as part of this program, they gain a solid foundation in their chosen subject matter.”
“We are fully committed to this program’s over-arching objective to increase the number of STEM secondary education teachers who have degrees in STEM subjects,” Ken Coll, dean of the University’s College of Education, said. “This model can not only help address a critical shortage of qualified teachers, but it’s also proven to retain these teachersin the teaching profession.”
Benefits to the program can already be felt in the community. Currently, NevadaTeach has two student learner groups teaching in Spanish at Mount Rose Elementary School, as well as groups teaching in 16 other elementary schools, six middle schools andSparks High School, where 31 NevadaTeach students taught this past semester in Washoe County.
“The reception from the students in the school district has been really positive,” Beckam said. “They clap when our University learners enter the classroom – they’re excited to do science.”
Kristen Jackson, a fourth grade teacher at Mount Rose Elementary and Washoe County School District teacher mentor to NevadaTeach students, emphasized the positive impact University learners were having in her classroom.
“It is very inspiring to see successful native Spanish speaking students interacting with younger children, sharing their academic success and love for science with them,” Jackson said.“In my 20 years of teaching, I have never been so impressed with the caliber of students that I have been sent. I can really see the benefit of having such academically focused native Spanish-speaking interns teaching science to my students. I truly can see my students remembering these interns 10 years from now when they think about their own college path.”
For Master Teacher Waddell, his past experiences have helped drive his passion for the NevadaTeach program.
“It seems as if most people can tell you a story about a math teacher they had who wasincredibly boring,” Waddell said. “Math can, in fact, be such an interesting, relevant topic. The problem is finding those teachers with a passion and proficiency in the topic area who can make it interesting for students. That’s what this program is aiming to do.”
NevadaTeach, when combined with a STEM degree, is a 120-126 credit program. While students are encouraged to begin NevadaTeach the first semester of their freshman year, having flexible entry points is animportant premise of the program.This allows students to enter the program early in their University careers even if they wereinitially not aware of the program or only became interested later.
“Right away, students are finding out if they like being a teacher,” Waddell said. “They decide if teaching is something they want to pursue or not.”
Gina Tempel, associate dean of the College of Science, and Robert J. Quinn, professor of mathematics education, serve as the founding co-directors of NevadaTeach, and Roxanne Piskel is the program coordinator.
For more information about NevadaTeach, visit unr.edu/nevadateach.
–@unevadareno –
About University of Nevada, Reno
Nevada’s land-grant university founded in 1874, the University of Nevada, Reno ranks in the top tier of best national universities by U.S. News and World Report and is steadily growing in enrollment, excellence and reputation. The University serves more than 21,000 students. Part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, the University is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Wolf Pack Athletics. Through a commitment to world-improving research, student success and outreach benefiting the communities and businesses of Nevada, the University has impact across the state and around the world. For more information, visit .
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