President Joseph Cassidy announced Monday, September 30 that Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has been awarded its second round of a five year grant from the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship and Stipend Program.

The Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine (GFSTM) project will provide two-year scholarships of $26,000 per year to a total of 15 undergraduate juniors and seniors. The program provides special support as students pursue STEM degrees in biology, mathematics, or physical sciences-chemistry or environmental science, as well as secondary education certification. Ultimately, Noyce Scholars will work in high-need urban and rural schools across Maine. GFSTM is a collaboration between Saint Joseph’s College and Southern Maine Community College, and a partnership with six other school districts.

The six GFSTM partner schools include: Deering High School, Lewiston High School, and Westbrook High School as urban schools; Bonny Eagle High School, Windham High School, and Lake Region High School as rural schools.

The first Noyce Scholars were awarded in the fall of 2020. Our next scholars will be awarded in the fall of 2024. The grant’s investigators and creators are Dr. Patricia Waters, Associate Professor of Education, Dr. Emily Lesher, Associate Professor of Science, and SMCC’s Dr. Daniel Moore, Professor of Biological Sciences.

The Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine project is designed to increase the number of secondary STEM teachers in an era when nearly a third of Maine teachers are 55 years old and nearing retirement, and to address the decades-old problem of Maine’s shortage of STEM teachers, in particular. By partnering with a community college and six high-need schools, the Noyce project is designed to grow students from within those sites. The project will also encourage students from high-need school districts to return to their communities as teachers and leaders of the next generation of science and math educators.

The announcement and reception was made yesterday (September 30, 2024) from 10:30am to 11:30am at Xavier Hall, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

Guest speakers included:

  • Joe Cassidy, President of Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
  • Phoenix McLaughlin, Director of Strategy Implementation at the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development
  • Patricia Waters, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
  • Dr. Kristen Miller, President of Southern Maine Community College
  • Josh Shunk, Noyce Grant Scholarship Alum
  • Doug Dumont, Assistant Principal of Lewiston High School
  • Sarah Lawrence, Representative, U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
  • Halsey Frank, State Office Representative for Senator Susan Collins and Senior Legal Counsel

“Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is deeply committed to educating the next generation of STEM teachers for Maine schools,” President Cassidy said. “STEM education remains the foundation and the number one priority for training Maine’s future skilled and educated workforce. By working with SMCC and schools across Maine, this project promises to draw more students into STEM-Ed degrees, provide teacher training with diverse populations, and plant seeds with current high school and middle school students to become future STEM teachers.”

Noyce Scholars will receive:

  • Two years of scholarship support at $26,000 per year.
  • Deep Dive Seminars on the most pressing issues in education today such as trauma-informed teaching, culturally relevant pedagogies, and rural challenges.
  • Connection to a professional network of local and national educators. Assignment of an Induction Coach to provide classroom observations and just-in-time coaching during their first three years of teaching.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree expressed excitement about the program. “The partnership between Saint Joseph’s College and Southern Maine Community College is a critical investment in current students who will become Maine’s STEM teachers of tomorrow. It is also an investment in the generations of future Maine students who will be better equipped to join the workforce of the future”, said Pingree. “For well over a century, Saint Joseph’s College has consistently adapted to ensure its students are prepared to meet the challenges of an evolving world”, states Congressman Jared Golden. This funding helps the college expand its efforts and make an even greater impact on Maine’s students and economy.

“This partnership provides new opportunities for our students who have a passion for math and science,” said SMCC president Dr. Kristen Miller. “With this grant in place, students who are interested in a STEM teaching career can utilize Governor Mills’ free community college program to get their first two years of college for free and then they can matriculate to Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and receive full scholarships for the last two years of their Bachelor’s Degree. What a great win for the students and for the State of Maine!” Said SJC president Cassidy and SMCC president Dr. Kristen Miller.

For more information about GFSTM, the scholarship criteria, and application process please visit https://www.sjcme.edu/degrees/stem-education/.

Check out more details about the program in our brochure.