UT Dallas’ efforts to train and support top-notch science and math teachers in traditionally underserved areas has received a big boost,  thanks to a grant that provides tuition support and training resources.

The Teacher Enhancement Academy in Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) provides tuition support of $480,000 for 30 educators currently teaching in high-needs schools who have committed to remaining with those schools an additional two years after completing their master’s degrees.

“We’re very pleased to have been chosen a second time to receive this funding, and we are excited for the opportunities it provides for teachers who want to continue their own education for the benefit of their students,” said Dr. Mary Urquhart, associate professor and head of the Department of Science/Mathematics Education at UT Dallas.

UTeach UT Dallas

UTeach Dallas is devoted to recruiting, developing, and retaining a new generation of secondary mathematics and science teachers at UT Dallas.

While the primary purpose of the grant is to support teachers in improving their content knowledge, teaching and leadership skills through a Master of Arts in teaching in science or mathematics education, it will also impact UT Dallas students training to become teachers.

The grant also provides $90,000 to support 30 outstanding upper-level UTeach Dallas students who will go on to careers in the classroom.  Each UTeach Dallas participant will be mentored by a MAT TEAMS participant, and will have the express mission of promoting STEM college majors and teaching careers among middle and high school students. 

UTeach began at the University of Texas at Austin in 1997 as a way to shore the gap in qualified secondary math and science teachers. UT Dallas was one of a group of universities in Texas to launch a UTeach program in 2008 and recently celebrated its first graduating class of teachers last spring.

“We are deeply committed to serving current and future talented science and mathematics teachers, and the new grant provides support to achieve those goals,” Urquhart said. “And we are truly appreciative of this opportunity for continuation and growth of partnerships to enhance STEM education for area students and their teachers.”

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board funded the TEAMS grant through the Math, Science, and Technology Teacher Preparation Academies program.