CenterPoint Energy New Teacher Academy Prepares Recent STEM Graduates for Classroom
Workshop Equips Participants for Success
More than ever, the need for qualified teachers is real. This is especially true for teachers specializing in STEM.
Enter the CenterPoint Energy New Teacher Academy, organized by teachHOUSTON, University of Houston’s secondary STEM teacher preparation program that is a collaboration between NSM and the College of Education. teachHOUSTON focuses on addressing the shortage of highly qualified teachers in STEM.
Held for three days over the summer, the program provides support and professional development to recent graduates of teachHOUSTON. For 2023, 26 graduates attended, at no cost to them.
Alumni Help Prepare New Graduates for Teaching Success
“The nature of the classroom is always changing, so it’s important that we invite our alumni who are already in the classroom to come back and offer their expertise,” said Amanda Campos, teachHOUSTON induction coordinator and academy workshop coordinator.
teachHOUSTON alumni serve as mentors, alongside teachHOUSTON faculty.
“Some of the professional development sessions offered range from inquiry-based learning to culturally responsive teaching,” said Campos. “We also offer strategies to survive and thrive in your first year of teaching.”
Participants gain insight on lesson planning and interacting with students. Sessions with hands-on activities gave participants new ways to incorporate STEM learning into the classroom.
“For me, the most important takeaway was networking and the community building you can have, not just in your classroom, but also among your like-minded peers,” said Olivia Pittman (’22), a teachHOUSTON alumna, who served as a mentor.
Alleviating First-Year Stress
While most first-time teachers enter the classroom not knowing what to expect, the CenterPoint Energy New Teacher Academy alleviates this stress.
“I feel like they gave me the brick to lay down, and I was able to have a point of departure just by being a part of this program,” said Pittman.
“I was able to take specific things I learned and incorporate this into my lesson design and my classroom culture,” said Nolan Nash (’22), teachHOUSTON alumnus and academy mentor.
Support for the program is provided by teachHOUSTON, CenterPoint Energy, Good Reason Houston, Comerica Bank and the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Financial aid is available to participants in the form of scholarships and stipends.
In 2023, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation awarded NMSI and teachHOUSTON $85,000 to help fund the academy for the future. CenterPoint Energy made an initial grant of $100,000 to the program in 2022. Paige Evans, teachHOUSTON co-director, served as principal investigator at UH.
In addition to mentorship and financial aid, participants also receive classroom supplies, which teachers typically pay for out of pocket.
Chris Guillory, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics