June Story Roundup: Why Everyone is Talking About STEM This Summer
From big scholarships and robotics to classrooms on wheels, these stories show why now is a great time to become a STEM teacher.
From big scholarships and robotics to classrooms on wheels, these stories show why now is a great time to become a STEM teacher.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a teacher, one subject stands out this summer: STEM. Okay, technically it’s not just one subject. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
Across the country, schools, universities, nonprofits, corporations and even influencers are investing in STEM education in new ways. From funding future teachers to expanding hands-on learning in real classrooms, these efforts all point to the same thing: STEM teachers are in high demand and at the center of some of education’s most exciting work.
These stories show why STEM is getting so much attention and why it might be the right teaching path for you.
A Colorado teacher, Naomi Meredith, is taking science on the road with a mobile STEM classroom. She’s filled her trailer with engineering challenges, coding activities, science experiments and other hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages.
STEM teachers like Ms. Meredith are finding creative ways to teach beyond the traditional classroom, increasing access in rural areas and helping more students fall in love with science.
(Source: We Are Teachers)
Major voices in science and technology are investing in STEM education because they know great teachers help drive the next generation of innovation.
Former NASA engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober is investing heavily, to the tune of $60 million, through CrunchLabs. The platform offers free classroom-ready STEM activities for teachers.
(Source: TED)
New Mexico robotics educator Shelly Gruenig is helping students solve problems through engineering, design and robotics competitions.
STEM teaching is hands-on by nature. You’ll spend your days helping students not just memorize, but discover, build, create and explore.
(Source: The Paper, Albequerque)
Across the country, organizations are investing significant funding into growing the STEM teacher pipeline. If you’re considering teaching, STEM often comes with funding opportunities that aren’t available in every subject.
A new grant from the National Science Foundation is providing scholarships of up to $14,000 for students preparing to teach STEM in high-need Maryland schools.
(Source: St. Bonaventure University)
Fourth grade STEM teacher Alia Pope is one of many educators working to broaden who sees themselves in STEM. From her classroom in Little Rock, Arkansas and through her social media presence, she helps students build confidence and explore futures in science and technology.
Ms. Pope’s work reflects a broader effort from STEM teachers nationwide to expand who belongs in these fields.
(Source: The 74 Million)
Consider this your new favorite bookmark. This free digital library features high-quality images of women in STEM that you can use in educational and noncommercial projects.
Whether you’re creating a slide deck, lesson plan or just refreshing your classroom resources, it’s a great collection to have on hand. The image here shows Dr. Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil, an astrophysicist whose research focuses on dark matter and galaxy formation using large telescopes.
TEACH is proud to partner with Honored.org, a national non-profit dedicated to recognizing and celebrating great teachers. This month, we're excited to give a shoutout to these STEM teachers!
Mathematics Teacher
Portland High School
Portland, Connecticut
Honors Physical & Earth Science Teacher
Newington High School
Newington, Connecticut
Want a career where you can make an impact and shape the future? STEM is worth a closer look.