The NSF Teaching Scholars program in Montana supports STEP's goals to recruit and retain outstanding teacher candidates.  Its purpose is to increase the pool of highly qualified K-12 mathematics and science teachers in the state.  This program recruits all students demonstrating academic strength, pedagogical promise and personal commitment to teaching.  Special emphasis is placed on the recruitment, retention and early career support of Native Americans and women in mathematics and science education due to their serious under representation in these fields in Montana.

    Program benefits:

• course revisions provide academic stimulation, and challenge students to maintain their interest in teaching
• a support system at their institution to insure academic success and program completion
• participation in science or mathematics service projects at local schools
• professional development opportunities (attending state/national education conferences)
• opportunities for students to participate in presentations at the National Science Foundation and state education forums
• merit grant of up to $3000 per year for academic expenses

    A statewide NSF scholarship committee, comprised of faculty representatives from tribal colleges and universities, was organized for the purposes of:

• developing and recommending guidelines and policy for funding, recruitment and selection process
• recruiting teacher candidates at local high schools, tribal colleges and universities
• reviewing applications and selecting recipients for scholarships

     Each STEP university or tribal college campus has a scholarship committee coordinator to:

• provide ongoing leadership and mentoring for scholars at that campus
• oversee the recommendations of new and continuing scholarship students at that campus
• serve as the campus adviser for student service projects
• provide feedback to the Scholarship selection committee

    We found that the NSF Teaching Scholars program has greatly contributed to the strength, diversity and leadership among K-12 mathematics and science teachers in Montana.  Although we valued the "edge" a scholarship program provided in attracting the academically gifted to teaching, the greatest impact of this program was providing Montana with it's first generation of minority teachers as role models in mathematics and science education.

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