This work was funded by the National Science Foundation Noyce Project to recruit and prepare thirty new mathematics and science teachers for extended teaching careers in the partner K-12 districts which all serve high proportions of low-income, English learner, and in some cases migrant students from urban, suburban, or rural agricultural communities in the region surrounding UCSC. A component of this work has been to increase communications and efforts among partner institutions in order to provide a supported pathway for local youth into math and science teaching.
Grant Partners: Collaborators from two universities, three community colleges, five school districts, and more contributed to this work.
| Community Colleges | K-12 School Districts | Additional Partners |
| Hartnell College, Salinas | Gonzales Unified School District | University of California Santa Cruz Cal Teach Program |
| Salinas Union High School District | University of California Santa Cruz MA & Credential Program | |
| Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz | Pajaro Valley Unified School District | Santa Cruz Silicon Valley New Teacher Project |
| Santa Cruz City Schools | CSU Monterey Bay Teacher Education Program | |
| San Jose City College, San Jose | East Side Union High School District | CSU Monterey Bay undergraduate STEM programs |
Grant Goals
Meet the needs of our K-12 partner districts for highly skilled math and science teachers by:
- sustaining important aspects of the pathways of teachers going into partner districts,
- supporting developing teachers as they transition from one step to the next in their education and professional development, and
- promoting their long-term retention.
Strategy
Establish a supported, streamlined pathway for regional youth into STEM teaching by:
- Building on and expanding existing opportunities within each institution
- Creating additional opportunities for students and partners to network across the NIC
- Improving communication mechanisms for students and partners.