A five-year National Science Foundation (NSF) award for more than $775,000 is accelerating efforts to address Nevada's rural STEM teacher shortage. Track 1 of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, Developing Secondary Science and Mathematics Educators in Rural Nevada, brings together the University of Nevada, Reno, Great Basin College and Elko County School District to build a strong pipeline of responsive STEM educators dedicated to serving Nevada’s rural communities.

Nearly 90% of Nevada’s school districts are classified as rural and face persistent challenges in attracting and retaining STEM educators. This project emphasizes recruitment, preparation and retention of STEM scholars in teacher education preparation programs so they are successful in teaching positions in rural communities in our state.   

Scholarship recipients receive two years of support and will be co-enrolled in the College of Science and the College of Education & Human Development’s NevadaTeach program, which gives students the opportunity to earn a dual bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a STEM field within four years. Following graduation, scholars will have a teaching service commitment to teach two years, for each year of scholarship, in a high need district.

The project is co-led by Mandi Collins, Ph.D., NevadaTeach teaching associate professor and director of the Raggio Center for Advancement in (STEM)²; Melanie Duckworth, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and executive director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Pamela Sandstrom, Ph.D., teaching professor of biology.

The University’s Research & Innovation office also played a vital role in securing this award. “We are pleased to be able to partner with our faculty, share our expertise, and help them excel in a competitive research climate,” said Kate Dunkelberger, manager of research development.

“The proposal was a labor of both strategy and heart,” Collins said. “I’m most proud that this funding opens doors for STEM-focused undergraduates to explore careers in secondary education. It’s a meaningful step toward strengthening STEM education where it’s needed most.”

Sandstrom will play a central role in advising and recruiting scholars. “Participants will build confidence and STEM knowledge by serving as learning assistants, supplemental instructors and biology discussion group leaders through the College of Science’s Peer Instruction Program,” she remarked. “This experience will also prepare participants to teach advanced courses, including dual-credit courses for rural Nevada students.”

Over 60% of the project’s funding supports students directly, promoting scholar development and equipping them to be highly effective teachers in rural Nevada. Support includes comprehensive scholarships, paid internships and rural housing and travel funds for their final semester of apprentice teaching in Elko County. Additionally, funding will support scholar activities, which include cultural immersion workshops, community outreach in the form of organized STEM nights and mentorship from University of Nevada, Reno and Great Basin College faculty, as well as in-service science and math teacher mentors from the Elko County School District. Finally, funding will support scholar testing and licensing fees, as well as induction stipends during their first two years of teaching.

“As a proud graduate of Elko High School, this project is an opportunity to give back to the community that helped shape my path as an educator,” Collins said. “I’m incredibly excited to work with our partners at Great Basin College and the Elko County School District to build and support responsive STEM educators dedicated to serving Nevada’s rural communities. The opportunities afforded by this project represent both a personal full-circle moment and a professional mission to make a lasting impact.”

Emily Nielson, director of secondary curriculum for Elko County School District, remarked, “The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is a foundational investment in the future of our public schools, championing rural students and addressing the need for highly qualified STEM educators. By strengthening the partnership between higher education and local school districts, we're creating lasting change and ensuring every student has the opportunity to excel in a rapidly changing world.”

Brian Zeiszler, program supervisor for secondary education at Great Basin College, echoed the importance of collaboration. “The investment in rural education through the placement of student teacher interns in Elko County ensures that our underserved rural communities gain access to quality instruction and experiences while preparing the next generation of STEM educators,” he said. “Partnerships between higher education institutions, like the University of Nevada, Reno and Great Basin College, and rural Nevada school districts are critical and create powerful opportunities to meet local needs and provide future teachers with meaningful, real-world experience.”

By evaluating the effectiveness and retention of Noyce scholars in rural teaching positions, the program also aims to generate insights that will improve rural STEM teacher development in Nevada and potentially serve as a model nationwide.

“With this funding support, NevadaTeach and institutions of higher education in Nevada are poised to harness all the potential for STEM discovery and innovation that resides in students living and learning in rural areas of Nevada,” Duckworth said. “Bringing STEM educational opportunities to the largest population of future scientists and creators is essential to realizing the STEM workforce development vision for our state and meeting the demands of our ever-changing world.”