Making IMPACTS: ISU Receives $1.2 Million For STEM Teacher Scholarships

Idaho State University has secured a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to launch the Idaho Making Progress Against Critical Teacher Shortages (IMPACTS) project. The selected prestigious Noyce Scholar recipients will receive support as they complete a bachelor degree in a STEM field and then continue their studies by entering the College of Education’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, earning their master’s degree and teaching certification. Participants will also receive ongoing professional learning with master educators, science and mathematics professors as well as work directly in linguistically and culturally rich school settings to better learn how to be effective educators for all students.

The IMPACTS project is a collaborative effort that is led by Dr. Cory A. Bennett, Chair and Professor for the Teaching and Educational Studies (TES) Department and co-led by Dr. Wendy Ruchti, an Associate Professor also in TES, and includes co-leaders from the College of Science and Engineering. This project seeks to address both the immediate and long-term needs in STEM education across Idaho and it comes at a crucial time, as school districts throughout the state have struggled to attract and retain qualified STEM educators.

“It is incredible to be a part of this exciting project that will support our schools in south and east Idaho; it took three years of collaboration to make it happen and we cannot wait to get going on it,” said Bennett. “By increasing the number of high-quality STEM educators, we are then preparing these professionals to go on to make an impact in their communities.”

The project will lay a foundation for modernizing STEM education programs by providing aspiring STEM teachers with deep content knowledge, content mentoring with STEM faculty, teaching assistantships, and hands-on experiences through student teaching and networking. Once equipped with skills and teacher certification, students will also be provided site-based mentoring and annual, on-campus reunions for continued professional learning and support beyond graduation through the IMPACTS initiative.

According to the Idaho State Board of Education’s FY24 Educator Pipeline Report, common teacher shortage areas include mathematics, science, and career technical education, to name a few.  With 25% of Idaho’s revenue coming from science and technology industries, the IMPACTS project will address these shortages by increasing the number of secondary STEM teachers who will go on to inspire the next generation of students to pursue careers in STEM. 

IMPACTS will include a partnership with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, American Falls School District, and Pocatello High School with the goal of gaining insights into needs and challenges with a special focus on underrepresented populations, such as schools with higher poverty rates and rural school districts. 

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Bennett. He went on to further acknowledge the collaborative effort behind the project, saying, “IMPACTS would not have been possible without the support, guidance, and insight from many different people and groups. This includes numerous people from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe and school district and the vision and leadership from Randy Jensen at the American Falls School District and principal Lisa Delonas at the Pocatello High School. Support from recent past and present College of Education leadership, and content experts such as Dr. Anna Grinath, Dr. Patrick Rault, Dr. Joshua Pak, and others from the College of Science and Engineering were also instrumental in making this project a reality.”

The IMPACTS project will build upon the proactive efforts of Bennett and Ruchti, including recent achievements that include Ruchti’s support with the STEM Certification awarded to American Falls J.R. Simplot Elementary School (JRSE) in Spring 2023, and Bennett’s launch of the R.E.A.L. STEM (Remote and Equitable Access to Learning STEM) project, which provides free remote STEM learning resources for upper elementary students nationwide. 

“Ultimately, the IMPACTS project represents an additional significant step forward in finding ways to combat the teacher shortage by enhancing and improving upon STEM education in Idaho,” said Bennett.  

To learn more about the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and the IMPACTS project, please contact Dr. Cory Bennett at corybennett@isu.edu or. Dr. Wendy Ruchti at ruchwend@isu.edu.