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Written & released by Math for America (MfA)
NEW YORK, MONTCLAIR, PRINCETON & GLASSBORO – January 30, 2019 – Math for America (MƒA), a nationally recognized STEM education nonprofit, announced today that it is partnering with Montclair State University, Princeton University, and Rowan University to create a new program called the New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship for New Jersey public school teachers designed to improve STEM teaching and student learning in the state.
The one-year fellowship comes with a $5,000 stipend and is initially open to experienced K – 5 teachers working in public elementary schools. Thirty teachers will be selected as fellows for the pilot year of the program, which will focus on improving math instruction in the classroom. Fellows will attend a two-day summer institute at Montclair State University, and then attend monthly workshops hosted by participating universities in their region, where they will implement innovative, research-based teaching practices shown to help students – particularly in high-needs schools – develop flexible problem-solving skills they need to thrive in STEM subjects.
“We are delighted to partner with leading universities to support this innovative program that supports STEM education in New Jersey,” said Dr. John Ewing, President of Math for America. “We believe this new approach will ultimately serve as a model for other states.”
MƒA developed the new program with feedback and support from several key stakeholders in New Jersey including the Murphy Administration, New Jersey Department of Education, and JerseyCAN, an advocacy group that supports equitable access to STEM education for students.
“New Jersey has some of the best public school teachers in the nation, who are committed to helping students reach their greatest potential,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This Math for America pilot will help teachers implement new, STEM-based teaching practices and will enable them to further provide our children with the skills they need to prosper in the innovation economy.”
“Montclair State is honored to lead a partnership of institutions with renowned teacher preparation and continuing education programs, including Princeton University and Rowan University,” said Dr. Susan Cole, President of Montclair State University. “This Fellowship will power statewide innovation in STEM education from the ground up.”
“This new fellowship gives teachers from different districts and schools a chance to collaborate by exploring innovative teaching practices,” said Dr. Todd Kent, Director of the Program in Teacher Preparation at Princeton University. “The fellows will model and share best practices, and we look forward to sharing these innovations with students in our teacher preparation program.”
“This program complements a long tradition of high-quality professional development for teachers offered by Rowan,” said Dr. Shelley Zion, Executive Director of the College of Education’s Center for Access, Success, and Equity (CASE). “Teachers working in high-needs districts will learn about innovative teaching practices that produce equitable learning outcomes for students.”
The fellowship will be funded with support from the Overdeck Family Foundation, PSEG Foundation, Celgene Corporation, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), and the Maher Charitable Foundation. Teachers can learn more and submit applications online at www.innovateSTEMnj.org. The fellowship will begin accepting applications in early February and the deadline to submit applications is March 31, 2019.
About MƒA:
At MƒA, we’ve created fellowships for accomplished mathematics and science teachers. Our model is based on the belief that collaboration, continued learning, and genuine respect enables teachers to grow professionally and provides long-term career satisfaction. This is a remarkable community of teachers who stay in the profession longer and define what teaching excellence means. These are teachers who inspire and motivate their colleagues. They change the lives of their students.
About Montclair State University:
Montclair State University is a research doctoral institution ranked in the top tier of national universities. Building on a distinguished history dating back to 1908, the University today has 11 colleges and schools that serve 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate programs. Situated on a beautiful, 252-acre suburban campus just 12 miles from New York City, Montclair State delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university in a supportive, sophisticated and diverse academic environment. montclair.edu
About Princeton:
Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship, research, and teaching that stands in the nation’s service and the service of humanity. As a global research university with world-class excellence across the arts and humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and engineering, the University is home to more than 1,200 faculty members who share a commitment to innovation, free inquiry, and the discovery and transmission of knowledge and new ideas. Princeton combines its strengths in research with a distinctive emphasis on undergraduate and doctoral education, preparing its 5,200 undergraduates and 2,800 graduate students for positions of leadership and lives of service.
About Rowan University:
Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified national doctoral research institution dedicated to excellence in undergraduate education. It offers bachelor’s through doctoral and professional programs to 19,500 students through its campuses in Glassboro, Camden and Stratford, New Jersey. Home to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and the School of Osteopathic Medicine, it also comprises the William G. Rohrer College of Business; the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering; the colleges of Communication & Creative Arts; Education; Humanities & Social Sciences; Performing Arts; Science & Mathematics; the School of Health Professions; the School of Earth & Environment, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a multidisciplinary honors college. Rowan is collaborating with regional leaders to create research and academic programs in health sciences. It has earned national recognition for innovation, commitment to high-quality, affordable education and developing public-private partnerships.