STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The College of Staten Island (CSI) has been awarded more than $1 million to create pathways for high-quality STEM — science, technology, engineering, math — teachers, thanks to a National Science Foundation (NSF) award announced by New York state senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The award of $1,012,325 to CSI in Willowbrook will go toward the project, “Strengthening the Mathematics and Science Teacher Pathways in the Post-Pandemic Environment.” Its goals are to expand recruitment, refine enrichment activities for prospective teachers, and build a teacher induction program for newly graduated educators.
“We have a shortage of STEM teachers made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this well-earned $1 million-plus from the National Science Foundation — that I fought hard to fund — will energize the College of Staten Island’s excellent program to expand recruitment and training for prospective math and science teachers to educate the next generation of students in these vital fields,” said Schumer.
This project at CSI will strengthen the math and science teacher pathways by attracting, training and keeping talented STEM majors within the teacher profession — especially for high-need school districts. It will expand partnerships to attract STEM majors and provide streamlined professional development opportunities during the teacher preparation program and the first year of teaching.
The project will also fund 30 high-achieving undergraduate students to complete a bachelor of science degree in biology, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, or physics — and obtain a New York state initial teaching certification.
“As interest in STEM education continues to grow across the country, we must work to meet the demand for STEM educators in this growing discipline,” said Gillibrand. “This $1 million plus for the College of Staten Island will work to attract, train, and keep talented STEM majors within the teaching profession, an important step to recruit more STEM teachers for high-need schools within the New York City public school system. I am proud to announce this funding, and I will continue to fight to deliver resources for STEM education.”
The funding comes after a recent allocation of $2.9 million in the federal budget, secured by by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) for STEM labs at CSI. This funding granted to the college by Malliotakis will help with investment in state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure.
More than 100 projects and initiatives will be funded by this allocation — ranging from equipment and technology used by students in STEM majors, to the construction of labs, state-of-the-art instructional facilities and cooperative workspaces for faculty and students. The labs will help prepare students on their academic journey and future career path.