Research Insights

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The National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Georgia – Elevating Science Teachers’ Excellence Everyday Matters (GA-ESTEEM) project will address the critical need to elevate Georgia’s K-12 science teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching science and strengthen the work of new and existing science teachers. This five-year project will build alliances among professional organizations, state service agencies, and institutes of higher education to accomplish three goals: 1) identify and draw upon the expertise of 12 Georgia National STEM Teacher Corps (GA-NSTC) members; 2) empower current and emerging science teacher leaders; and 3) build and sustain science learning networks. To accomplish these goals, the project consists of an Executive Committee, an Advisory Committee, an external evaluator, and develops three Hubs. The Executive Committee consists of Hub leaders and Project Directors. The Advisory Committee consists of local and national experts to ensure the impact of the project. The evaluation team tracks the process and productivity of the project. Each Hub will consist of GA-NSTC members, individuals from Georgia’s science education associations and agencies, faculty and graduate students from institutes of higher education, and science teachers and teacher leaders. Each Hub will work in an area that strengthens Georgia’s K-12 science teacher workforce. The Hubs will work with one another, yet each Hub will have a unique role. Hub GA-NSTC will be responsible for identifying and supporting the work of 12 GA-NSTC teachers. These teachers will take on various roles in other Hubs and within their Georgia districts. Hub Capacity Building will be responsible for organizing established learning opportunities into new programming that targets newly hired science teachers, and builds the mentoring expertise of experienced science teachers. Hub Empower will curate advocacy and leadership programming for science teachers across Georgia. Each Hub will engage in synergistic alliance building and discovery with a focus on the success of all students.

Funder: NSF

Amount: $4,996,572

PI: Julie Luft, Mary Frances Early College of Education