What's Happening in Stockton, CA…

The University of the Pacific in Stockton recently received a $1.45 million grant that will enable it to recruit and prepare teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as a measure to help with the shortage of such teachers in the county.

Flyer printing is often used to draw attention to such programs and encourage students to enroll in them.

The grant will provide 20 students who wish to teach STEM subjects with scholarships over the next five years. The funding will begin in their junior year and enable the completion of a master’s degree and earning the credentials to take courses at the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education at the university.

Undergraduate research will also be part of the program. While in the master’s program, students will be supervised while they student-teach at schools in the county which are considered to be high-need. Those in the program will also make a commitment to teach for two years for every year of receiving a scholarship.

Participants in the program will also receive year-round professional development and onsite mentoring from the STEM department of the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) and the university in partnership with the Manteca and Stockton unified school districts.

Director of STEM programs at the SJCOE, Kirk Brown, said this collaborative project will help to fill the need for qualified STEM teachers in the county.