With a master’s degree fellowship offering up to $30,000 in paid tuition stipend in exchange for 3 years of paid work in high-need educational posts, Michigan math and science teachers are quickly increasing in number. A new program by the Kellogg Foundation brought $18 million to Michigan in 2009 in an effort to recruit more teachers of the so-called ”STEM” subjects: science, technology, engineering and math. The program had already demonstrated a high level of success in other states such as Indiana and has since been brought to Michigan.

By partnering with colleges and universities across the state, these fellowships are offered to teachers wishing to pursue higher education. In return, the teachers commit to spending at least 3 years in certain schools and districts where teacher shortages in these fields are the most extreme, including the Grand Rapids, Godfrey-Lee, Detroit and Battle Creek school districts. The universities that are participating in the program are Grand Valley State, Michigan State, University of Michigan, Wayne State, and both Western and Eastern Michigan Universities.

This cooperation between elementary, secondary and higher education facilities creates more opportunities for students and teachers alike. Also, the program is able to match teacher specialties with the areas that are most in need. There are already nearly 200 fellows working in the state of Michigan, and the most recent program is bringing in almost 100 more. While the teachers will be working toward post-graduate degrees while holding full-time teaching jobs, they will have 3 years to complete their master’s degrees, making the goal completely attainable.

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