Triangle Coalition For Science And Technology Education

Last Thursday, February 14, U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) reintroduced legislation that would invest in educators of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The STEM Master Teacher Corps Act (S. 358) offers career advancement and higher pay to the top 5% of K-12 STEM teachers in the United States. Members of the teaching corps would, in turn, mentor other STEM teachers, share best practices, and serve as role models in their districts and states. The legislation includes plans for competitive regional grants for program implementation, specialized training and support for corps members, and funding for program evaluation. Seventy-five percent of the Master Teachers Corps Members would teach in high-need schools, with an emphasis on teachers in rural schools as well. Over the course of 4 years, the Master Teacher Corps would grow to include 10,000 educator members.

Sen. Franken said in a press release, “Creating a STEM Master Teacher Corps will help ensure that our students are equipped with the skills they need by giving new STEM teachers role models to look up to and get advice from. At the same time, it will give more experienced and effective teachers support, advancement opportunities and recognition of their hard work.”

A related plan released by the White House in July 2012 estimated that the program, which would operate out of the U.S. Department of Education, may cost approximately $1 billion, making it the single largest federal STEM education investment. With that said, and given the current budgetary situation, a program with a price tag of this magnitude is not likely to gain much traction in Congress. Following its introduction, the legislation was referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for consideration. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

In October 2011, Triangle Coalition supported the original bill (S. 758) that was introduced during the 112^th Congress. Now in the 113^th Congress, Triangle Coalition is one of more than 55 groups that have currently signed on in support of the bill, S. 358.

In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers across the nation have been recognized this week. President Obama, who is extremely vocal about his support for STEM education, has recently placed a special emphasis on science and mathematics teachers.

The 2011 National Teacher of the Year, Michelle Shearer, teaches high school chemistry in Frederick, MD and also previously taught mathematics. Shearer is an advocate for STEM education and utilizes real-life applications of scientific concepts in her classroom. “When students feel connected not only to the teacher but to the subject itself,” she says, “they quickly become eager to explore.”

Teacher of the Year recipient Michelle Shearer, with President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, remarks during the ceremony. 53 State Teachers of the Year stand behind them. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

President Obama held a special reception on Tuesday, May 3^rd at the White House Rose Garden honoring the National and State Teachers of the Year. Obama invited the teams from the National Science Bowl to attend as well.

“America will only be as strong in this century as the education that we provide our students,” said Obama during the ceremony. “And at a time when our success as a nation depends on our ability to out-educate other countries, we desperately need more Michelles out there. And that’s why we’ve set a goal of preparing 100,000 new teachers in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math over the next decade — fields that will give students the skills they need to compete with their peers anywhere in the world.”

He also mentioned his call for Congress to move quickly to rewrite and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

In addition, President Obama recently recognized 85 outstanding science and mathematics teachers with the highest honor one in the field can receive, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). It is awarded annually to K-12 teachers and alternates each year between primary and secondary teachers. The 2010 awardees teach kindergarten through 6^th grade.

PAEMST winners receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. Awardees will also travel to Washington, DC the week of May 17, 2011 for an awards ceremony and several days of educational events.

“The teachers we honor today have demonstrated uncommon skill and devotion in the classroom, nurturing the young minds of tomorrow’s science and math leaders,” said President Obama in the PAEMST announcement.  “America’s competitiveness rests on the excellence of our citizens in technical fields, and we owe these teachers a debt of gratitude for strengthening America’s prosperity.”

To view the list of 2010 PAEMST recipients, visit www.PAEMST.org

To learn more about the National Teacher of the Year, visit CCSSO’s website.