Foundation Awards Grant to Help Recruit STEM Educators

Teach For America is getting a financial boost for its efforts to recruit recent college graduates to teach math and science in high-needs communities. The ExxonMobil Foundation awarded a $500,000 grant to the organization to find and train 400 new recruits to serve in low-income rural and inner-city schools.

According to the 2009 report on achievement gaps in math from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), there exists a 27-point gap in scores between eighth-grade students in high- and low-income districts. This is one of the glaring educational inequities Teach For America said it's looking to address with its recruitment and training programs.

"Having a workforce highly skilled in math and science is crucial to the country's future success. Attracting and retaining quality math and science teachers is the key to preparing the next generation of innovators," said Suzanne McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. "Sponsoring Teach For America helps us build a pipeline of qualified and engaging teachers to motivate our nation's students to study these subjects."

The organization will train and place teachers in underserved districts in Dallas, Houston, southern Louisiana, and Washington, DC.

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

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