Projects

Noyce Master Teacher Fellowships

Noyce Master teacher fellowship program at USF

The NSF Noyce project, Mechatronics Integrated into STEM Teaching for Transformative Inclusive Communities (MISTTIC) is expected to begin recruiting soon.

With funding from the National Science Foundation, USF will partner with Hillsborough County Public Schools, the Florida High Tech Corridor, Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Center (AMRoC), and other private and non-profit educational entities across the county to support STEM teachers and increase STEM pathways for students in grades 6-12.

The project aims to develop and retain highly effective Master Teacher Fellows (MTFs)  who have foundational knowledge about mechatronics, and the practical knowledge and hands-on experience of the design and engineering process, to effectively engage students with an integrative and inclusive approach to STEM.

Dr. Sears and student programming a rover

Dr. Sears and students program rovers.

The project will provide an opportunity for 20 Hillsborough County STEM teachers to obtain their M.Ed. degree during the first year of their participation in the program. Each Fellow will receive a guaranteed, annual salary supplement of $15,550 ($77,750 over five years), in exchange for an additional four years of teaching in the district. 

A teacher awarded a Master Teaching Fellowship will be expected to:

  • Obtain their M.Ed. at the University of South Florida while teaching STEM in the high-need school environment. 
  • Attend monthly workshops to earn a STEM Teacher Leader Certificate and Micro-credentialing in Mechatronics.
  • Serve as Teacher Leaders of STEM trainings in their respective schools.
  • Continue to develop as Teacher Leaders of Mechatronics.
  • Attend at least one Education Conference to present lessons created and taught.
  • Collect data related to the Noyce Project and meet with the Project Team at regular intervals.

A teacher awarded a Master Teaching Fellowship must agree to: 

1. Serve as a full-time STEM teacher in a high-need district for a total of five years. In year one the Fellow will complete the USF M.Ed and agrees to continue teaching STEM for four more years in the district.

2. Take on a leadership role within the school or high-need district in which the MTF is employed, in addition to regular classroom activities. Examples of leadership activities include serving as a mentor, participating in curriculum development, assisting in the planning and implementation of professional development experiences, and participating in preservice teacher.  

Eligibility

  • Experienced and exemplary secondary STEM teacher in the Hillsborough County School District
  • Possess a bachelor’s degree in education or a STEM discipline
  • Must work full-time in the high-need school environment
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Interest in and ability to teach mechatronics in an in-school or after school learning environment
  • Enroll in the USF College of Education Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction 
    • Choose a concentration in Mathematics or Science Education 
    • At USF the M.Ed. requires that students have two years of relevant experience, as judged by the program faculty, and requires a minimum of 33 Credit Hours.

Application - Instructions will posted as soon as possible.

For additional information email: 

  • Dr. Ruthmae Sears, Professor of Mathematics Education and Principal Investigator (PI)
  • Dr. Stephanie Arthur, Visiting Instructor for Science Education and Project Recruitment
  • Kelley Schuler, Assistant Director, Coalition for Science Literacy and Project Manager

Thank you for your interest. 

The project addresses a national interest by providing advanced education and authentic, action-oriented, training to support the development of STEM Master Teacher Fellows. The project's objective is to develop grades 6-12 STEM teachers' knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills to provide mechatronics-based lessons that include a wide range of experiential education activities to appeal to a diverse student population in their classrooms and after-school programs; thereby broadening participation in STEM.