{"id":15126,"date":"2017-10-03T09:37:35","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T14:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ced.ncsu.edu\/news\/?page_id=15126"},"modified":"2025-10-13T15:46:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T19:46:51","slug":"stem-ed-leaders","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ced.ncsu.edu\/news\/stem-ed-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"How We Became a Leader in STEM Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
\"STEM<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This article was published in October 2017.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the past 15 years, just a week before school starts each year, Karen Hollebrands has received at least one email from school districts in North Carolina \u2013 sometimes many more \u2013 asking for help in finding mathematics teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not uncommon for us to receive inquiries from principals wondering if we have any recent graduates who are looking for jobs as mathematics teachers just before school is ready to begin,\u201d says Hollebrands, Ph.D., the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Mathematics Education at the NC State College of Education. \u201cThe supply of highly qualified mathematics teachers does not seem to be meeting the demands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a lament heard nationwide, too: There aren\u2019t enough qualified teachers to inspire students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Hollebrands and her colleagues at the NC State College of Education tackle that problem at full velocity every day, with departments dedicated to preparing teachers in STEM-related disciplines. The Department of STEM Education emphasizes preparing middle and high school teachers; and through the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences, the college offers the only STEM-focused elementary education program in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intentional focus on STEM is reaping good results. Collectively, the NC State College of Education is the largest supplier of STEM educators in North Carolina. NC State has graduated each year the most students who passed the licensure exams in STEM education disciplines since at least 1998-99. The most recent data available shows that the college graduated 107 students who received their licensure in STEM-related fields in 2014-15. That\u2019s 39 percent more than the next school in North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very special community who believes in having licensed teachers equipped with basic and advanced knowledge, not just in the pedagogy but also the core disciplines,\u201d says Aaron Clark, Ph.D., Professor of Technology, Design and Engineering Education and the Department of STEM Education\u2019s Director of Graduate Programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NC State College of Education leads the state in preparing STEM educators.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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No. 1<\/h2>\n

\n Producer of STEM educators in North Carolina each year\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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100%<\/h2>\n

\n Passage rate on licensing exams in science, mathematics and technology\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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Top<\/h2>\n

\n Performance ratings by NC State-produced beginning teachers on statewide measures\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hard Work Pays Off<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Teacher preparation is rigorous in the College of Education, Hollebrands says. In math education alone, undergrads take a minimum of 39 hours of mathematics. Students can also double major and earn two degrees: one in mathematics education and a second degree in mathematics or statistics. In addition, all students take five methods classes. Other institutions may require only two methods classes for future teachers, giving them less time to build pedagogical skills.<\/p>\n\n\n