Dearborn Public Schools has joined a unique partnership that will pay young graduates or mid- career professionals with science, engineering, technology or math degrees to go back to school to become teachers.
In return, those who go through the program have to agree to teach for three years in Dearborn Public Schools or Detroit Public Schools Community District.
The Wayne State Metro Detroit Teaching Residency for Urban Excellence (TRUE) Project is looking for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, math or computer science. The program will help participants get a master’s degree in education and their
teaching certification in 18 months. During that time, participants will receive a $40,000 living stipend and participate in a one-year residency in one of the two districts. Class costs are paid by the participant, minus any financial aid they receive. Participants will also receive mentoring throughout the program and for two years after graduating. Through the program, participants will become eligible to teach high school or middle school classes in their field.
In his letter as part of the grant request for the program, Dearborn Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko said, “As with many school districts around the State of Michigan, we struggle to fill STEM focused positions such as science, math and computer sciences.”
A general shortage of teachers is more pronounced for science, math and technology teachers. The Metro Detroit TRUE Project will help Dearborn meet its goal of improving quality instruction for students, Maleyko said. The District already works with Wayne State’s Teacher Preparation Intern
Model.
An information session about Metro Detroit TRUE is scheduled for Jan. 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fordson High School, 13800 Ford Road, Dearborn, in room A-103. To register for the session or learn more about the program, visit go.wayne.edu/trueproject. The first class of TRUE participants is
expected to run from May 2020 to December 2021, but the new teachers could start work in the fall of 2021 while finishing their graduate coursework.
The program is part of a federal Department of Education grant to recruit more qualified science, math and technology teachers. Wayne RESA and several others are also partners in the initiative.
“With the need of high quality STEM teachers across the State of Michigan, we believe that this is a one of a kind opportunity to assist in the development of teachers who have industry experience to be our future leaders,” Maleyko wrote.