Teaching & Learning

NSF Grant, USU to Provide Training for Math Teachers in Rural and Indigenous Regions

By Marcus Jensen |

LOGAN, Utah — Educators in the Utah State University Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the School for Teacher Education and Leadership have been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation.

The goal of the grant is to provide additional training for secondary math teachers who serve rural areas of Utah and Indigenous groups. With this training, middle school and high school teachers in these areas will be better able to design their courses to be more culturally relevant and engaging for students, with the goal of aiding comprehension and improving pathways to higher education and careers.

The grant will allow for the creation of a Master Teaching Fellowship Program, enabling secondary math teachers to participate in educational courses in mathematical modeling and data science that will help them learn ways to better engage their students in STEM classes.

“Our hope is to train teachers who will stay in these regions and become future leaders,” said Don Busenbark, assistant department head for mathematics and statistics and one of the leaders of the program. “We hope to specifically recruit future leaders who can then pass along this training to others, thus benefitting not only this generation, but impacting the region for many years to come.”

The six-year grant, which is under the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, is for $3 million and will aim at serving school districts in Duchesne, Uintah, and San Juan counties, as well as teachers serving the Navajo Nation and the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. USU Statewide instructors from both the USU Uintah Basin and USU Blanding regions will lead the instruction. Participants will receive a $14,000-per-year stipend and can also receive tuition assistance to cover a master’s degree in mathematics through Utah State University.

According to the grant proposal, these regions were selected “because they contain substantial proportions of rural and Native students, which are two groups that are often overlooked in STEM education. USU is uniquely positioned to engage with these school districts due to its extensive network of regional campuses and ongoing work in these communities.”

Eight USU faculty members will participate in this project as project leaders or members:

  • Brynja Kohler (Math Education and Applied Math).
  • Brennan Bean (Statistics and Data Science).
  • Sindura Kularajan (Mathematics Education).
  • Tye Campbell (Teacher Education & Leadership).
  • Jessi Lajos (Mathematics Education).
  • Carrie Bala (Mathematics Education).
  • Don Busenbark (Mathematics Education).
  • Eric Rowley (Mathematics Education).

As Utah’s land-grant university, Utah State is committed to providing research-based programs and resources to people in the state. This program aims to bring training to areas that need it most.

“One of the most rewarding and satisfying aspects of working at a campus in the statewide system is bringing opportunities to people who otherwise would have none,” said Eric Rowley, clinical professor in mathematics and statistics at USU Blanding. “Our vision is to develop teacher leaders in rural and indigenous serving regions of USU’s service area, particularly, in these blossoming fields.”

The program has widespread support from all involved, including letters of support from the Ute tribe as well as from the school districts. The program also has several applicants who already want to participate.

“Thank you so much for working hard to bring the indigenous people and rural schools the opportunities that are found on the Wasatch Front,” said one teacher from Whitehorse High School who will be participating in the program.

Teachers in these areas who are interested in participating in the program and making a difference in their communities are encouraged to contact Brynja Kohler (brynja.kohler@usu.edu). Applicants from other areas of rural Utah that are USU service areas will also be considered. Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2024. For the first cohort, the program will run from August 2024-June 2030. For more information, visit www.usu.edu/math/noyce.


WRITER

Marcus Jensen
News Coordinator
University Marketing and Communications
marcus.jensen@usu.edu

CONTACT

Don Busenbark
Assistant Department Head
Statewide Campuses, Mathematics and Statistics
(435) 770-4244
don.busenbark@usu.edu

Eric Rowley
Clinical Professor
Mathematics and Statistics
(435) 770-4244
eric.rowley@usu.edu


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Statewide Campuses 412stories Grants 253stories STEM 229stories

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