Fellowship to help prepare future educators to teach STEM in Pennsylvania

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation recently announced that it will establish fellowships at three Pennsylvania universities to help prepare future educators to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in high-need schools across the state.

Each fellow in the Woodrow Wilson Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship will receive $32,000 to complete a master’s degree program based on a year-long classroom experience and commit three years at Pennsylvania schools that most need strong STEM teachers. Fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring throughout the three-year commitment.

“All Pennsylvania students both need and deserve strong STEM teachers,” Arthur Levine, president of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, said. “Through the Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship Program, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation will now help the state construct new pipelines of aspiring educators with strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math, all committed to teaching in Pennsylvania’s high-need communities. Through this effort, Pennsylvania will continue to strengthen its schools, its communities, and its future.”

The Woodrow Wilson Foundation selected Duquesne University, University of Pennsylvania and West Chester University as initial university partners. The School District of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Public Schools, McKeesport Area School District, Penn Hills School District and Woodland Hills School District are the initial school district partners. The foundation is seeking additional partners and funders to expand the program.

The three participating universities will receive $400,000 in matching grants to develop teacher preparation programs based on standards set by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. The universities will be able to enroll 12 fellows for each of the program’s three years.

The Woodrow Wilson Foundation will create and administer the program. It is supported by a $5 million matching grant from the the William Penn Foundation as well as donations from Highmark, AT&T, the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, M&T Bank, the Weiss Family Foundation, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Foundation and other major individual donors.

“The Pennsylvania Teaching Fellowship Program brings the best of all approaches to the teaching needs we have in Philadelphia,” School District of Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite said. “We know that the most important factor to student achievement is having a great teacher in every classroom. Teachers trained using a clinical model, like this fellowship program, do well, especially in our high needs schools. And, young teachers are more likely to succeed and remain in teaching when they are supported with mentors, like the fellowship provides.”

Pennsylvania is now the sixth state to bring the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship to its colleges and universities.