“Even though I had participated in a STEM Short Course two years ago, I was excited to have the opportunity to do it again and experience a whole new teaching environment. Being able to talk to teachers in all different stages of their careers, and hearing about the ways they got into teaching is incredibly valuable to me. It settles my nerves and shows me that not everyone takes the same path into this career, and that's what makes every teaching so unique.”
Teaching the STEM leaders of tomorrow
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Over winter break, biology and secondary education student Sophia Viger ’24, a Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine scholar, jumped at the chance to participate in her second Teaching Experience Short Course at Windham Middle School.
Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a partnership between Saint Joe’s and Southern Maine Community College and is committed to growing the pool of highly qualified secondary STEM teachers in Maine by creating and supporting multiple pathways into the profession.
The program provides activities such as:
- Field experiences where scholars are placed in the partner school classrooms and with outstanding mentor teachers.
- Teaching experience short course where SJC, community college, and high school students can spend a week learning STEM content and how to teach it in high-need schools.
- Careers in STEM Education Workshop Panels of current STEM teachers and SJC alum will provide insight into the benefits and challenges, as well as the professional dispositions associated with the field.
- Scholars will learn from experts and explore topics such as trauma-informed teaching, culturally relevant teaching, rural challenges, and Native American educational traditions from leaders in the field.
The next teaching experience short course is scheduled for May. If you are interested in the Growing Future STEM teachers in Maine program, please email stem.ed@sjcme.edu or click on the link below.
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