Continuing its commitment to excellence in science, technology, engineering and math education, West Virginia University announced today (Feb. 17) that it has partnered with 100Kin10, a national network working to coordinate and accelerate the White House’s call to bring 100,000 new STEM teachers into schools by 2021.

As a 100Kin10 partner, the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in STEM Education, along with the WVUteach program and the Physics Teacher Education Coalition, has committed to double the number of math and science teachers the University produces to an average of 40 annually by 2018, and 60 annually by 2020.

WVU will also have an impact on the science preparation of nearly 100 elementary education majors each year at WVU.

“We are very excited and honored to have been selected into the 2016 class of 100Kin10 partners,” said Gay Stewart, director of the WVU Center for Excellence in STEM Education. “100Kin10 is just the community we need access to grow the ideas to make WVU a nationally recognized leader in STEM teacher preparation, to help those already part of the movement to achieve even greater success, and to provide a model to other institutions that just don’t know they can do it yet.”

Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about Growing Stem Teachers.

As a partner, WVU will have access to exclusive research, learning, innovation and funding opportunities – all designed to foster a collaborative and supportive partnership to fulfill its ambitious commitments toward 100Kin10’s shared goal.

WVU is one of 49 new partners to join 100Kin10’s network of more than 280 of the country’s top businesses, nonprofits, foundations and academic institutions.

The partnership is the latest step in the University’s ongoing effort to build a STEM-educated workforce in West Virginia.

WVU previously launched WVUteach, a renowned and unique teacher-training program for secondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors to become high school mathematics and science teachers.

The University is also a supported site in the Physics Teacher Education Coalition. As a supported PhysTEC site, WVU has committed to bolster its support of physics students and increase the number of those who are highly qualified to teach physics in high school when they graduate.

More and better-trained STEM teachers are essential to preparing America’s students to understand and respond to complex national and global challenges. To compete in the global marketplace and provide opportunity to all young Americans, all students must have basic STEM skills and knowledge.

“According to the West Virginia Council on STEM report, commissioned by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in 2014, West Virginia is expected to add 25,000 STEM jobs by 2018. STEM is the fastest growing job sector in number and in income. Workers in STEM occupations drive our state’s innovation and economic competitiveness,” Stewart said.

“We need great STEM education at our universities to provide these workers, but we also need great STEM education K-12 to get our young people interested and prepared. Some of these jobs do not even require a bachelor’s degree. WVU is accepting a major role in preparing these teachers.”

The WVU Center for Excellence in STEM Education was selected through a rigorous proposal process to become a 100kin10 partner based on its organizational strength and STEM and teaching expertise; its commitment toward the 100,000 STEM teacher goal; and its strong interest in and capacity to build the 100Kin10 movement.

“It is critical there be cross sector collaboration to prepare today’s students to be the leaders of tomorrow,” said 100Kin10 Executive Director Talia Milgrom-Elcott. “We are excited for the many ways West Virginia University Center for Excellence in STEM Education will contribute to our shared mission of getting more and better STEM teachers into American classrooms.”

-WVU-

cl/02/17/16

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