C&I colleagues receive $5 million grant to improve science teaching in rural schools

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $5 million, five-year grant to Department of Curriculum and Instruction Assistant Professor Dr. Selin Akgun (PI) and Professor Dr. Gillian Roehrig (co-PI) for a project to improve science teaching and learning in rural elementary schools across the Midwest.

The project, National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Midwest Alliance for Rural Elementary Science, will be conducted in alliance with researchers from the University of Kansas, University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa State University. It will run from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030.

The initiative will focus on supporting and retaining rural STEM teachers by creating professional learning networks, offering new leadership opportunities, and developing innovative approaches to science instruction. The alliance aims to elevate teachers as key change agents in improving access to high-quality STEM education for all students.