$1.2 Million IMPACTS Project Launches With First Cohort of Future STEM Teachers

A five-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program has launched the Idaho Making Progress Against Critical Teacher Shortages in STEM (IMPACTS in STEM) project at Idaho State University (ISU). ISU students selected for the prestigious Noyce Scholarship will be awarded full tuition as well as cost-of-living expenses throughout degree completion. 

IMPACTS in STEM Noyce Scholars first complete an undergraduate STEM degree in the ISU College of Science and Engineering.  They then complete the Master of Arts in Teaching program in the College of Education, earning both their master’s degree and teaching certification. In addition to their coursework, students participate in an extensive and rich community of practice that includes books studies, volunteering in local STEM classrooms, work with current STEM teachers and engaging in other meaningful experiences that support their development toward becoming a highly effective K-12 STEM teacher.

“Scholars are engaged in an array of outreach and support activities to learn more about STEM teaching and learning; some of them are volunteering in schools,” Dr. Cory A. Bennett, a professor in the Teaching and Educational Studies (TES) Department and one of the leaders of the project, said. “Some of them are helping out with different kinds of science or engineering fairs, and they’re getting involved with the education community in many different ways before they start taking their formal coursework in education.” 

There are now three Noyce Scholar students at ISU; two at the undergraduate level and one at the graduate level. This is a strong start to the pipeline of highly qualified STEM teachers that the IMPACTS project is creating, specifically in Idaho. 

For current ISU students who are interested but still undecided if they want to become a STEM teacher, the IMPACTS project has made internships available for them to explore STEM teaching. While working as interns, students can participate and engage in all parts of the IMPACTS project. 

”They’re welcome to be a part of anything within the project to help them see the benefits, the joy, and all the other cool parts about being a science or mathematics teacher,” said Bennett.

These internships create a pipeline of interest so that those discovering their passion for STEM education can go on to be Noyce Scholars. 

Current Noyce Scholar, Zoe Tassava grew up in a family full of STEM professionals. As a child, she was passionate about science. She loved dinosaurs and planets, and she was never without her beloved science encyclopedia. When high school rolled around, Tassava had a few struggles that made her question her abilities. She still loved science, but had lost her confidence about belonging in a STEM field. When she started college classes in her late twenties, she decided that being a  science teacher would be a good fit for her interests. 

“I knew that there was a need for STEM teachers, and I had still maintained a passion for science, so my path seemed set,” Tassava said. 

Tassava thrived in her classes, working her way up from lower-level mathematics classes to calculus. The confidence that had faltered in high school began to blossom as she discovered she was a capable learner in mathematics. 

“As I took more and more math classes, and proved to myself that I was a math person, that I belonged in STEM and math, I realized that maybe what I really wanted was to have a math degree, to be a math expert,” Tassava said. 

Being a Noyce Scholar is helping her do that, and in the future she looks forward to helping her students navigate their struggles and showing them they belong in STEM. In addition to her coursework, Tassava has also been able to tutor and teach. She has loved watching her students experience what she calls “lightbulb moments” when they understand the materials. 

“It has been so amazing to have an academic journey that recommits me to my passions nearly every single day,” Tassava said. “My journey so far has reassured me that STEM teaching is my destiny, and I can't wait!”

To learn more about the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, IMPACTS project, or how to start your journey to becoming a STEM educator at ISU, please contact Dr. Cory A. Bennett at corybennett@isu.edu or Dr. Wendy Ruchti at ruchwend@isu.edu. You can also visit https://www.isu.edu/education/outreach/noyce/ to learn more.