Project Grant 2150955

This five-year, $999,370 project grant from the National Science Foundation's STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) will fund research on the career trajectories, effectiveness, and retention of STEM teachers in Oregon who participated in Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship programs. Pacific University will survey 100 former Noyce scholars about their careers and interview 40 in depth. Researchers will identify teachers demonstrating cultural effectiveness and retention in high-need schools. Eighteen teachers will participate in a year-long narrative inquiry program, creating autoethnographies reflecting on their careers. Project findings will be disseminated through conferences, publications, and a collection of teacher narratives. Results may inform national STEM teacher preparation efforts around recruiting, preparing, and supporting candidates likely to succeed in high-need schools. Partners include the Universities of Oregon and Portland and Education Northwest.