ODU GEMS (Growing Educators of Mathematics and Science) Program Summary
Old Dominion University (ODU) GEMS Program: Implementing Noyce Teacher Education Support (Noyce Track 1 S&S Phase 1) – ODU; Partner schools: Chesapeake Public Schools, Norfolk Public School, Virginia Beach Public Schools; Partner community college: Thomas Nelson Community College
The GEMS program seeks to grow educators of mathematics and science from across the Hampton Roads region to return as highly qualified secondary STEM educators in high-needs schools in the Hampton Roads region. This program will complement the MonarchTeach program to recruit, prepare, and return teachers to their local communities. Through the GEMS program, high school, community college, transfer and ODU students will be recruited with the intent to attend ODU as GEMS participants. As GEMS participants, students will be provided opportunities to engage with local schools, build relationships with school partners, learn best-practices for teaching in an urban and/or high-needs environment, and return to teach in the school partner division. This will help fill critical shortage areas designated by the Virginia Department of Education.
The over-arching goal of GEMS is to recruit GEMS scholars from the local area, train them to be highly qualified and effective STEM educators and return them to their local community to serve as STEM educators. We refer to this goal as “Growing our own teachers”.
Our Partners:
The following school divisions have currently partnered with the ODU GEMS program: