Fairfield, CT – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) joined Sacred Heart University faculty and staff to announce that the university will receive $1,449,251 from the National Science Foundation to increase the number of graduates who will teach STEM in priority-needs school. The grant will go towards the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship recipients, who pledge to attain a masters in teaching and then work in priority-needs schools.
“Increasing the number of well-trained STEM teachers in Connecticut schools is important for our children and for the future of Connecticut’s workforce,” said Himes. “Sacred Heart University’s Noyce Scholarship will help ensure that students, regardless of zip code, can receive a quality STEM education. I’ll continue to work to secure continued federal funding for education and workforce development in Connecticut.”
“One of the foci of this grant that truly excites me is giving students the experience to work in priority-needs school districts and serve underrepresented students in K-12 schools,” said Bonnie Maur, co-director of the science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) program at the Isabelle Farrington College of Education. “I am so excited to expand upon past programs along with my teammates, Mark Beekey, Andrew Lazowski and Kristin Rainville here at SHU. It can also afford other students the option to spend their four years at SHU and also complete their master’s program at the Isabelle Farrington College of Education in STEM-related areas.”
According to Sacred Heart University, the Noyce Scholarship program has two primary goals: to increase the number of highly qualified science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers who graduate from SHU and go on to work in high-need secondary school districts; and to increase the overall effectiveness of STEM teachers in high-need schools in CT and around the country. Sacred Heart has also introduced a new partnership with Housatonic Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport to create a direct pathway for HCC’s STEM-related majors to Sacred Heart’s five-year teacher preparatory program.
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