Taylor Conley attains STEM Education Licensure
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- Awards
- Feature Friday
- STEM
Tori Peterson
Fourth-grade teacher Taylor Conley recently added STEM Education to her license through a new partnership program with the Indiana Department of Education and the Education Service Centers of Indiana that funds coursework for teachers seeking full licensure.
Fourth-grade teacher Taylor Conley recently added STEM Education to her license through a new partnership program with the Indiana Department of Education and the Education Service Centers of Indiana that funds coursework for teachers seeking full licensure.
The Indiana STEM Educator Expansion Initiative funds tuition, books, and material fees for both currently licensed teachers in non-STEM areas, as well as prospective teachers who are not licensed but hold a bachelor’s degree, to become licensed to teach a STEM subject. “In today’s technology-driven world, it has never been more important for every Indiana student to have access to high-quality STEM instruction, and this starts with ensuring we have the very best and brightest educators in the classroom,” said Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner.
In addition to financial backing for books and tuition, the program will also offer $1,000 stipends to current teachers adding the STEM endorsement to their licensure. Prospective teachers can also receive $1,000 stipends for child care and licensure fees in addition to a $1,000 commitment stipend upon being hired in a STEM-related position and another $1,000 commitment stipend if hired in a rural district.
Principal Brenda Butcher is proud to share Ms. Conley’s accomplishment, though it did not come as a surprise. “Taylor is overachieving and seeks out opportunities for growth. She incorporates project-based lessons and STEM in her classroom. She also leads our STEM and Lego League Robotics Clubs.”
“I'm excited to bring the new knowledge I gained in preparing for this STEM addition into the classroom and our after-school clubs. The students have a lot of fun with our inquiry activities, and they gain skills and experiences that they will carry with them,” said Taylor Conley.
Washington Community Schools is committed to expanding STEM education and empowering our students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing, diverse, and technical society.
- WVE