News Center Maine highlights College of Education and Human Development support for rural STEM teachers
A story that aired on 聽this week showcased efforts by the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development to help rural school districts recruit, educate and retain STEM teachers thanks to a nearly $100,000 grant the college recently received from the National Science Foundation. 鈥淎s a state, we won’t thrive unless our rural communities are thriving,” said聽Catharine Biddle, associate professor of educational leadership and director of the School of Educational Leadership, Higher Education and Human Development in the college, who serves as co-principal investigator on the NSF grant. “Paying attention to those needs and ensuring we are supporting them is a really important part of what we can do to see Maine be the best state it can be.鈥澛燘en聽Greenlaw, superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 1 in Aroostook County and a doctoral student in educational leadership at 91福利, added that staffing is always a concern for rural districts. 鈥淲e have a large number of people nearing retirement. We don鈥檛 get a lot of applicants for positions,鈥 Greenlaw said. 鈥淚 worry about it. It keeps me up at night.鈥 Interim Dean聽Zeke Kimball聽added that teachers are crucial to the state鈥檚 future. 鈥淢aine鈥檚 rural communities are critical to Maine鈥檚 future economy,鈥 he said. More information about the grant is聽online.