The program’s long-term goal is to create a sustainable system that continues to support and recognize Georgia’s science teachers for years to come.
ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia has received a $5 million National Science Foundation grant and will build a state alliance aimed at elevating K-12 science education and supporting every science teacher across Georgia.
Led by Julie A. Luft, the athletic association professor of science education in UGA’s Mary Frances Early College of Education, the initiative will establish the “National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Strengthening Georgia Science Teachers Through a Teaching Corps, Mentoring and Leadership Development.”
The program will bring together leaders from the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Science Teachers Association, the Georgia Science Supervisors Association and the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center.
“The vision of this project is to highlight the excellence of Georgia science teachers, along with building community and advancing their professional positioning,” said Luft, a faculty member in the college’s department of mathematics, science and social studies education.
The alliance will operate through three main hubs — STEM Teacher Corps, Capacity Building and Empower — each designed to serve different aspects of science teacher development.
The STEM Teacher Corps will select one teacher from each of Georgia’s 12 science regions to mentor peers and collaborate with the National STEM Teaching Corps. The Capacity Building hub will connect new and veteran teachers through mentorship networks, while the Empower hub will focus on leadership training and recognition for experienced educators.
Each hub will include a research component to measure progress and identify ways to strengthen science education statewide.
Luft said the program’s long-term goal is to create a sustainable system that continues to support and recognize Georgia’s science teachers for years to come.
“It’s a collaborative effort, and there’s a plan for it to be sustainable,” Luft said. “I think that’s our long-term vision: Down the road, this project will in some iteration continue to support science teachers in their professional learning and recognize them for their significant work.”