Missouri S&T’s education department has earned a 2024 Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) Award. With this award, Missouri S&T can better support approximately 60 students studying to be K-12 teachers. The funding will help pay for S&T students’ field experiences and pay their mileage for student teaching.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education gives the award to higher learning institutions that are working to increase the number of teacher candidates and strengthen retention in teacher preparation programs. The DEWEY awards provide $70,000 grants to 15 education preparation programs each year.

“Our students can always use more funding, especially in their last semester when they are essentially working a full-time job,” says Dr. Beth Kania-Gosche, chair and professor of education at Missouri S&T. “There are many extra costs for field experiences, like a professional wardrobe and substitute teaching certificate fees. We have some other sources of funding, like generous donors, and we try our best to reduce the financial burden for teachers because of their starting salary at graduation.”

Because of Missouri’s current K-12 teacher shortage, there are fewer student teacher placements available with qualified mentors. In past semesters, S&T education students have had to travel to schools in Dixon, Waynesville, Licking and Steelville for teaching experience.

“During student teaching, our students travel every day, although some area school districts like Belle and Newburg have a four-day week,” says Kania-Goshe. “Some students drive every day; others have a different schedule. Each class has a different number of required hours, but they typically go at minimum once per week to their teaching placement.”

About Missouri University of Science and Technology 

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.