New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship Expands to Science with Funding from State

Montclair, NJ (07/29/2021) — Math for America (MA), a nationally recognized STEM education nonprofit, announced with partners Montclair State University, Princeton University and Rowan University that the New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship will open its program to include science educators as a result of $100,000 in new funding from Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey State Legislature. The fellowship, originally created for New Jersey mathematics teachers and designed to improve STEM teaching and learning in the state, will also welcome its second cohort this August due to continued funding from private partners.

The second cohort of New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellows, who were accepted into the program in June, consists of 30 elementary educators representing 27 districts and 30 schools. Over one third of these educators work in schools where more than 60% of students receive free and reduced lunch.

The one-year renewable fellowship for public elementary school STEM teachers comes with a $5,000 stipend. Fellows will attend a two-day virtual summer institute, followed by monthly workshops hosted by participating universities in their region, where they implement innovative, research-based teaching practices shown to help students - particularly in high-needs schools - develop the flexible problem-solving skills they need to thrive in STEM subjects. The New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellowship is based on MA's proven teacher fellowship program in New York City.

"The impact of the NJ STEM Innovation Fellowship has been tremendous on mathematics teaching and learning across the state," said Governor Phil Murphy. "The expansion of the program into science will promote broad and equitable learning opportunities for students, as well as provide important professional development for New Jersey's outstanding teachers."

"The MA fellowship was designed to serve as a model for programs like this one," said Michael Driskill, MA Chief Operating Officer. "We're thrilled that Governor Murphy is committed to expanding the fellowship to both mathematics and science, continuing to empower New Jersey STEM teachers to drive innovation in their classrooms and improve student learning."

MA developed the new program with feedback and support from several key stakeholders in New Jersey including the Murphy Administration, New Jersey Department of Education, and JerseyCAN, an advocacy group that supports equitable access to STEM education for students. The fellowship is funded with support from the Overdeck Family Foundation, PSEG Foundation, Celgene (now Bristol Myers Squibb), BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), the Maher Charitable Foundation, and ADP.

2021 New Jersey STEM Innovation Fellows

About MA:

At MA, we've created fellowships for accomplished mathematics and science teachers. Our model is based on the belief that collaboration, continued learning, and genuine respect enables teachers to grow professionally and provides long-term career satisfaction. This is a remarkable community of teachers who stay in the profession longer and define what teaching excellence means. These are teachers who inspire and motivate their colleagues. They change the lives of their students.

About Montclair State University:

Montclair State University is a research doctoral institution ranked in the top tier of national universities. Building on a distinguished history dating back to 1908, the University today has 10 colleges and schools that serve 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, master's and baccalaureate programs. Situated on a beautiful, 252-acre suburban campus just 12 miles from New York City, Montclair State delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university in a supportive, sophisticated and diverse academic environment. montclair.edu