![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2022\/03\/PLT_STEM-teachers_math-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is helping to address the critical shortage of qualified math and science teachers in Southwest Wisconsin by partnering with local school districts and STEM teachers to implement a \u201cgrow your own\u201d program. The program was created by Dr. Tim Deis, professor of mathematics at UW-Platteville, and Dr. Jodean Grunow, senior lecturer in UW-Platteville\u2019s Department of Mathematics, after receiving a National Science Foundation Noyce Capacity Building grant. The program\u2019s title, \u201cE\u2019s 2 STEM,\u201d highlights its guiding objectives \u2013\u00a0envision, engage, encourage, establish, enumerate, evaluate and empower.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have such a dearth of math educators right now,\u201d said Grunow. \u201cThe shortage is critical. Unfortunately, one of the things that is developing is that people are going into these positions who are ill-prepared for them. Consequentially, students are going to be ill-prepared, and we will again have to re-tool our math skills. This is all happening at a time when mathematics is more important than it has ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the new program, Deis and Grunow partner with area high school STEM teachers, who then identify and recommend \u201cstudents of promise\u201d \u2013 those who have an interest in STEM and an aptitude for becoming a potential teacher. Deis and Grunow work with those identified students and their parents to advise them on the advantages of STEM teaching. The high school students, supporting teachers and UW-Platteville personnel form a cohort that supports the students through their senior year. The students also have the opportunity to enroll in two dual-credit education courses, offering them high school and college credit.<\/p>\n
The program structure is grounded in research demonstrating that the path to choosing teaching as a career begins in high school, if not earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery one of us has had a high school teacher who has made an impact on our life,\u201d said Deis. \u201cIf there is a kid out there thinking about teaching, they are likely thinking about a high school teacher they have been working with who has made an impact on their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
The partnering school districts and teachers are a key to the program\u2019s success, said Deis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re taking a page out of the athletics playbook,\u201d he said. \u201cIn athletics, college coaches have connections with high school coaches, and the high school coach will contact a university about a kid\u2019s talent. That\u2019s the philosophy that we\u2019re following.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still in its first year, the program has already made big strides. Approximately 40 teachers have expressed interest and they have identified 30 students of promise, 15 of whom Deis and Grunow have already met with.<\/p>\n
One of the partnering teachers, Laura Kulcinski, a high school math teacher at Dodgeville (Wisconsin) High School, has seen the shortage of STEM teachers first hand. When a position for a high school math teacher opened for the 2021-22 school year, she said they had only a small pool of applicants apply and were unable to fill the position. The district hired an intern from UW-Platteville to teach two math classes in the spring semester \u2013 a solution that Kulcinski said was immensely helpful for the short-term. While she said she still has concerns for the long-term outlook, she is hopeful UW-Platteville\u2019s new program will help.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program has given us a point for discussion with our students and also gives incentives for students to explore the STEM education field,\u201d said Kulcinski. \u201cAlso, connecting current high school students with UW-Platteville professors and students majoring in STEM education is beneficial. It puts a face with the UW-Platteville program and our high school students love to hear from UW-Platteville students and their college journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additional partners in the program include Dr. Leigh Monhardt, UW-Platteville professor of education, and Dr. Anguru Premadasa and Stephanie Kernik \u2014\u00a0partners from UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County and UW-Platteville Richland, respectively. For more information on the program, visit\u00a0www.uwplatt.edu\/ease2stem<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe E’s 2 STEM program has afforded me the opportunity to have valuable discussions with students about their abilities in math and science as well as the intrinsic rewards of a teaching career.\u00a0It has opened the door for students to explore the possibility of teaching, ask questions, and gain experiences before they even leave high school.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013Jamie Jones, high school math teacher, Richland Center<\/p>\n \u201cI feel that the program has opened my students\u2019 eyes and made access to college introductory classes more accessible. Where those students would have never thought of taking them in the past, they now feel empowered to start their career path early in their high school career.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013Kirsten Reichmann, high school science teacher, Wauzeka-Steubben School District<\/p>\n \u201cThe E’s 2 STEM has me very excited about and interested in working with future teachers.\u00a0 While I have had the pleasure of having student teachers in my classroom, I am hoping to take this to the next level and begin more work with high school students who are interested in teaching.\u00a0\u00a0My goal is to start a future teacher organization in our school district this next school year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013Cindi Nothem, high school math teacher, Mineral Point<\/p>\n \u201cThe program has been helpful in that if I have a student who is interested in entering STEM education, I have a place to direct them to get more info.\u00a0The amount of information \u2018out there\u2019 can be really overwhelming to someone who isn’t familiar with how college works, so it’s nice to direct students\u00a0to a concise resource. It’s an added bonus that UW-Platteville is physically so close, too! This gives interested students the chance to go to UW-Platteville for orientation sessions, workshops, classes, etc. more easily.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013Danielle Carlson, high school science teacher, Fennimore<\/p>\n Written by Alison Parkins<\/p>\nAdditional teacher testimonials:<\/h3>\n
\n