teachSTEM
AEF's teachSTEM initiative is a groundbreaking program designed to address Arizona's critical STEM teacher shortage by motivating high school students to pursue teaching degrees in STEM.
teachSTEM is a partnership between AEF and the Arizona Department of Education's Educators Rising Arizona, a Career and Technical Student Organization dedicated to ensuring that the future is full of high quality educators starting in high school.
According to Educators Rising research, 60% of all high school teachers work less than 20 miles from where they attended high school. teachSTEM has the potential to not only inspire students to become STEM teachers, but to return to their own communities as educators.
overview.
The first time students learn about STEM or STEM careers is usually from a teacher.
With widespread vacancies in full-time STEM teacher positions throughout Arizona, thousands of students go through high school each year without full-time math, science, and technology teachers. teachSTEM is an early intervention, that not only provides access to STEM learning for students, but also builds awareness about the need for STEM teachers and job opportunities within mainstream STEM fields.
teachSTEM is designed and led by current and former AEF Arizona Teachers of the Year and finalists who are STEM educators. teachSTEM pairs one of these master educators with an area high school's Educators Rising program as a STEM Coach. STEM Coaches work with students throughout the year, engaging students in hands-on STEM learning, discussing STEM workforce skills, college and career options. and providing students with access to STEM Subject Matter Experts to discuss real-world STEM opportunities.
staff contact.
For more information, contact Kim Graham at kim@azedfoundation.org.