MTU, NMU Partner to Develop Leaders in STEM Education for Michigan Middle Schools

Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University are partnering to prepare 30 middle school science teachers to become leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The National Science Foundation is providing $2,738,425 through the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program to support this six-year initiative, named Partnering to Prepare STEM Master Teachers for Michigan’s Middle Schools. 

The newly funded Master Teachers Program (MTP) will develop current middle school STEM teachers into leaders in their schools and communities. The program aims to recruit 30 experienced and effective science teachers to lead efforts to improve science education in grades 5-9 in diverse, high-need schools throughout Michigan. 

Nominations for this new program will be accepted beginning in fall 2024. Interested teachers can contact MTP@mtu.edu and visit the program’s webpage. All participants must be current classroom teachers in high-need school districts and will receive a stipend as they complete an extensive multiple-year leadership program in two groups, or cohorts. The first cohort of 20 teachers must already possess their master’s degree, and the second cohort of 10 teachers will earn a master’s degree during the program.

The MTP focuses on middle school educators because most students take their first standalone science course in the middle grades — classes that can have a lifelong impact on students’ interest in science. If that first experience is positive, students are more likely to take other science courses in the future and ultimately consider a career in science or a related field. 

“The significance of this program lies in its mission to develop and empower teacher-leaders within high-need school districts,” said Marianne Semones, project team lead and senior research scientist at the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech. “These leaders play a crucial role in mentoring new educators, forming a dedicated cadre of teachers in Michigan focused on improving STEM education and providing a stable and effective learning environment for students.” 

MTP’s second cohort of participants will earn a master’s degree in Educational Instruction Curriculum from NMU. The degree, requiring 32 credits, is offered entirely online, making it accessible to teachers throughout Michigan. Teachers earning the master’s degree will be engaged in learning activities year-round. For MTP, the master’s program will be offered through collaboration between NMU and MTU. 

Partnership with Michigan Tech makes it possible for Northern Michigan to offer their master’s degree to science teachers for the first time. NMU will deliver the coursework and experiences required for the program’s foundations, research, capstone and elective requirements. Tech will oversee a block of learning in the advanced subject area of Integrated Science for Middle School Educators. MTU will offer its portion of the degree through the University’s Global Campus, and these courses will be transferred to NMU to fulfill degree requirements.

“Northern Michigan is proud to partner with Michigan Tech to explore a unique pathway for STEM teacher development that infuses classroom-based STEM content through an applied pedagogical approach,” said Joe Lubig, associate dean for the School of Education, Leadership & Public Service at Northern Michigan University. “This cohort apprentice-style teacher preparation approach supports developing STEM teachers through a two-year process leveraging MTU’s expertise in STEM content, NMU’s expertise in teaching practice, and the school site’s access to master teacher mentors. It is our hope that the learning we gain from this program will allow us to replicate this type of teacher development on a broader scale.”

Regional Impact and Expansion 

The MTP aims to collaborate with school districts to identify and prepare experienced and effective teachers as future science teacher-leaders. MTP leadership will seek nominations from school district partners to recruit teachers. Those selected to become MTP Fellows will receive innovative leadership training to become effective mentors and lead efforts to improve science teaching and learning in their schools for years to come.

Teacher-leaders also play a crucial role in addressing the current teacher shortage in Michigan. Like many states, Michigan has seen a significant decline in enrollment in teacher education programs, dropping 50% statewide between 2008 and 2015. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many experienced teachers retired or left the profession for other careers. 

The MTP is especially focused on reaching rural schools in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where access to professional learning opportunities is often limited compared to more populated areas. The strategies employed in this project are anticipated to be useful in addressing the significant need for science teachers throughout the Upper Midwest; a goal is to create a model that can be extended to other rural areas across the United States by the end of the six-year program.

The outcomes of this partnership between Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University will be externally evaluated by Western Michigan University. 

MTP school district partners include:

• Copper Country Intermediate School District
• Kalamazoo Public Schools
• Kentwood Public Schools
• Marquette-Alger Regional Education Service Agency
• Menominee County Intermediate School District
• Midland Public Schools
• Upper Peninsula Center for Educational Development

Nonprofit partners involved in the program are:

• Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
• Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association 
• Michigan Science Teachers Association
• MiSTEM Network