Mississippi STEM Education Alliance (MSEA)

Elevating Mississippi’s STEM Teachers, Empowering Mississippi’s Students

Apply to the National STEM Teacher Corps

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Mississippi STEM Education Alliance (MSEA)

Get to know MSEA

The Mississippi STEM Education Alliance (MSEA) is a five-year statewide initiative led by the Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Mississippi. Funded by the National Science Foundation’s National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program, it brings together teachers, universities, districts, nonprofits, and industry partners to improve mathematics and data literacy education across Mississippi.

Our goal is to tackle the shortage of certified math teachers and increase access to high-quality STEM instruction throughout all regions of the state.

Our Mission

Our mission, through MSEA and the National STEM Teacher Corps, is to establish a network of distinguished teacher-leaders who design and deliver professional development, broaden endorsement pathways, and enhance the teaching profession through increased visibility, collaboration, and innovation.
Interested? Fill out our interest form!

National STEM Teacher Corps Program

The National STEM Teacher Corps Program is excited to recognize sixteen exceptional middle and high school math teachers from Mississippi, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. These dedicated educators, honored as National STEM Teacher Corps Members (NSTCMs), are celebrated for their outstanding teaching and serve as inspiring ambassadors.

NSTCMs will be expected to choose a specialized content area in which they have the most experience or are most interested. One teacher per content area—Middle School Math, Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics—will be selected from each congressional district, ensuring statewide representation and expertise across all major mathematics pathways.

They develop professional growth programs, mentor fellow teachers, promote STEM education, and help recruit new educators within their districts. Their efforts are paving the way for a stronger, more equitable STEM education system that benefits everyone.

These are the program commitments and expectations of a National STEM Teacher Corps Member.

Time Commitment: Selected teachers agree to a four-year term.
- Annual: NSTCMs commit to 1-2 weeks of summer training, attend the Mississippi Distinguished Educators’ Summit, and participate in four quarterly meetings to develop and implement math endorsement programs.
Ongoing Classroom Engagement: Teachers remain actively involved in classrooms for at least 50% of their work hours.
Professional Growth Colleagues (PGCs): NSTCMs will mentor a colleague annually, expanding professional learning across Mississippi schools.

Here are the benefits a National STEM Teacher Corps Member will receive.

Stipend: An annual stipend of $13,500 to support their work and development.
Professional Growth: Exclusive access to professional development opportunities and attendance at state-wide and national conferences.
Public Acknowledgment: Recognition across the state via media campaigns, press releases, and similar efforts.
Collaboration and Development: Engagement with MSEA professionals to create and support endorsement institutes and develop a new high school course in statistics and data science.

Learn more about the eligibility, application components, and selection process of a National STEM Teacher Corps Member.

Eligibility:
- Certified middle or high school math teacher with at least five years of experience
- Maintain full-time employment within a Mississippi school-district teaching in the classroom 50% of the time
- Demonstrate passion for STEM, strong pedagogical skills, and leadership potential
- Commitment to professional growth and enhancing student achievement in STEM
Application Components:
- Online Application Form
- Administration Verification: An administrator (principals, instructional coaches/specialists, or district-level administrators) must confirm teaching assignments and endorse the applicant's participation by filling out a recommendation form.
Selection Process:
- Phase 1: Applications will be assessed using a rubric
- Phase 2: Selected applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual interview
- Phase 3: Top candidates will participate in an in-person interview at their school
- Sixteen outstanding math educators will be selected—four from each Mississippi Congressional District—to participate in the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program.

Meet the Team

Alice Steimle

Instructional Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Director for Center for Mathematics and Science Education

Julie James

Assistant Director Professional Learning CMSE

Bethany LaValley

Coordinator of Professional Development-CMSE

Liza Bondurant

Co-Principal Investigator and Algebra and Geometry Content Lead

Joseph Sweeney

Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Mississippi Teacher Corps

Johnathan Hill

Program Coordinator

Yazie Goulet

Multimedia Specialist

Our Partners

Thank you to our partners! Their support enables MSEA to collaborate with universities, research centers, and community organizations to offer hands-on STEM activities for students and teachers, along with professional development and recognition programs for educators.