COLLEGE STATION --
Texas A&M University has received a $506,300 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish a
Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) Teacher Preparation Academy program intended to increase teaching effectiveness by improving instruction.
The two-year grant, awarded through the
Texas A&M Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) on the basis of the university's proven excellence in teacher preparation, will provide funding support for an Academy focused on increasing the quantity and quality of mathematics and science teachers certified at the middle school and secondary levels. It will be affiliated with Texas A&M's nationally peer-reviewed teacher recruitment model,
aggieTEACH, a collaborative effort between the
College of Science and the
College of Education and Human Development that has helped position the university as the state leader in mathematics and science teacher production for the last six years, according to the
Texas State Board for Educator Certification.
Dr. Timothy P. Scott, associate dean for undergraduate programs in the Texas A&M College of Science and director of aggieTEACH, will serve as principal investigator and project director for the grant, which runs from June 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
"We could not be more pleased with the support we are receiving from the state in this very worthwhile endeavor," Scott said. "The shortage of domestic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is well known. Like the National Academies, we believe that our first efforts must be to provide the highest quality STEM teachers possible to excite and motivate the next generation of scientists, engineers and physicians. This grant is deeply gratifying, because it recognizes our past leadership and continued commitment to pioneering in this important arena. We look forward to working across campus through this academy to help train the next generation of teachers."
Texas A&M's is one of three new Academies funded during the most recent grant cycle. Twenty prior Academies have been funded at 15 universities -- including four within The Texas A&M University System -- across the state during the previous four funding cycles of the program, which was established and funded under HB 2237 as part of the 2007 Legislative session.
Dr. Araceli Martinez Ortiz, director of the THECB's Office of Educator Quality and Preparation, notes that the overall MST Teacher Preparation Academies program's goal is to increase teaching effectiveness in mathematics, science and technology by increasing the number of Texas teachers with masters of education degrees in these subject areas. Armed with this additional knowledge, expertise and experience, they will be better equipped to produce "college-ready" high school graduates in what are three increasingly critical disciplines to Texas, the United States and the world.
For more information on the Mathematics, Science and Technology Teacher Preparation Academies Program, visit
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=F7835531-9B63-D38E-8D11F5AF9277B877.
To learn more about aggieTEACH or the Center for Mathematics and Science Education, visit
http://aggieteach.tamu.edu.
-aTm-
Contact: Shana K. Hutchins, (979) 862-1237 or shutchins@science.tamu.edu or Dr. Timothy P. Scott, (979) 845-7362 or tim@science.tamu.edu
Hutchins Shana
