UToledo-Led Initiative Gathers Science Teachers in Kentucky

UToledo-Led Initiative Gathers Science Teachers in Kentucky

Eighteen science teachers explored new ideas and hands-on tools in Kentucky in mid-June, continuing a five-year initiative led by The University of Toledo.

The teachers comprise a cohort of master teaching fellows that have been participating in research-based professional development under the initiative since it launched with $2.3 million in support from the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Scholarship Program in 2024. The programming is designed to support the recruitment and retention of high-quality science teachers, with each fellow representing a category of teacher that research indicates is at particular risk of attrition: middle and high school teachers of specialized subjects who are employed by high-need districts.

The master teaching fellows work in urban and rural districts in Ohio and Kentucky.

Fellows engage with each other and with mentors throughout the year, and the entire cohort gathers in person once each summer. This year they shared ideas, explored new technology for classroom applications and enjoyed a tour of Wilderness Trail Distillery led by Dr. Pat Heist, a co-owner who brings a scientist's eye to the process of fermentation, in Lexington, Kentucky, from June 15 to June 19.

Deanna Rice and Rachel Sanders are master teaching fellows who work at Toledo Early College High School and the Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield, Ohio, respectively.

"This program has provided the invaluable experience of being able to collaborate and learn with talented and like-minded science educators," Rice said. "Not only have we been equipped with more tools and strategies, but we have gotten the time to share our experiences and ways to optimize learning for our students."

Sanders spoke similarly.

"Over the past two years, the MTF project has provided me the opportunity to collaborate monthly with like-minded teachers, creating a motivated cohort of teachers willing to try new research-based learning strategies for greater student engagement and understanding within the science community," she said.

Wilderness Trail was a particular highlight for Sanders, who credited the tour and co-owner presentation with presenting a first-hand opportunity to see the skills she teaches in her bioresearch classroom in an industry setting.

Likewise for Dr. Natasha Johnson, who leads the master teaching fellow initiative as an assistant professor of teacher education at UToledo.

"Dr. Heist shared his personal journey, from his early experiences as a science student to his innovative work in the bourbon industry," Johnson said. "His story served as a powerful reminder of the pivotal role teachers play in inspiring and shaping their students' futures. It also highlighted the endless possibilities that await students who develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills and apply them to address real-world challenges."