Indiana Looks to Improve STEM Teacher Retention

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 10/25/2017

Three programs in Indiana have received additional funding to help recruit and retain science, technology, engineering and mathematics educators.

Purdue University has won $785,415 to continue a trio of programs that aim to improve recruitment and retention of future STEM teachers.

The funds are a renewal of a grant offered through Indiana's STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund and the majority, $531,789, will go to the STEM Teacher Retention through Mentoring program, which includes 11 public school districts, along with Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Butler University and University of Southern Indiana. With the renewed funding, the program will continue to support 90 mentees throughout the state and 10 new mentees in the first five years of classroom teaching with 59 teacher mentors.

"The program helps retention efforts by offering support to teachers in implementing STEM instructional practices in their classrooms," said Jennifer Hicks, I-STEM science program manager, in a prepared statement. "The program provides an online platform that supports interaction and sharing of resources and ideas among teachers. We are grateful for the opportunity to keep the momentum of this program moving forward."

The other two programs included in the grant include nearly $200,000 to Strengthening Indiana's Future through the 21st Century STEM Teachers, which aims to increase diversity by offering scholarships, and almost $60,000 toward Growing the Pipeline for Agricultural Education Teachers in Indiana.