The University of North Texas (UNT) is taking significant steps to tackle the nationwide shortage of educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This six-year initiative, led by the College of Education in partnership with the College of Engineering and College of Science, aims to recruit, prepare, and retain future STEM teachers for grades 6-12.
The program, which commenced in the fall of 2024, was launched with UNT’s inaugural Teaching Fellow Signing Day. This event marked the celebration of the first Noyce STEM Teaching Fellow. These fellows are STEM professionals and graduates who receive funding and training to become certified secondary STEM educators, committing to teach in high-need schools.
“We hope this program can serve as a model for universities seeking to address STEM teacher shortages, offering a replicable blueprint for supporting STEM teaching fellows and establishing a sustainable teacher pipeline,” stated Colleen Eddy, the principal investigator of the project and an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Administration.
The Noyce STEM Teaching Fellow program provides a comprehensive support package valued at $80,000 per student. This package covers the costs of earning a Master of Education in Teaching with a secondary teacher certification in mathematics or science and includes a salary stipend during their first four years of teaching.
Activities under the grant started in the summer of 2024 with a free STEM camp held at Denton High School, where students engaged in projects like video game design, bridge construction, and energy systems. UNT seniors and recent graduates led the camp as interns, preparing them for careers in STEM education.
Joshua Maverick Azarcon, a biomedical engineering graduate, emerged as the program’s first Noyce STEM Teaching Fellow. “When I was in second grade, I wanted to be a teacher. After years of studying engineering, I realized that teaching might be my true calling,” Azarcon reflected. He is set to complete his coursework and paid internship within two years, followed by a four-year teaching commitment in a high-need school district.
The initiative primarily focuses on supporting underrepresented groups in STEM, including students from low-income backgrounds, racial and ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, and first-generation college attendees. Teaching fellows will benefit from mentorship by UNT STEM faculty and collaboration with peers to ensure their success during the early years of their teaching careers.
The project is a cooperative effort involving UNT faculty, the Denton Independent School District, and nonprofit organizations such as talkSTEM, Communities in Schools North Texas, and the National Society of Black Engineers-Dallas-Fort Worth.
Rudi Thompson, interim dean of UNT’s College of Education, highlighted the program’s long-term impact, noting, “By addressing critical teacher shortages and fostering a culture of mentorship, UNT is shaping the future of STEM education in Texas and beyond. This program reflects our commitment to equipping educators with the tools and support they need to inspire the next generation of innovators.”
