ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University (CWU) and four other universities in Washington are collaborating to address racial disparities in STEM education and explore solutions to bridge these gaps.
The initiative, titled “Racial Equity in STEM Starts with Teacher Education,” is supported by a $2.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal is to enhance the representation of underrepresented populations in STEM teaching roles.
Dr. Tim Sorey, a professor of chemistry and science education at CWU, emphasized the importance of this effort.
“If you don’t have students that come through and represent the future teachers, where are they going? What’s going on?” he said.
Sorey highlighted the current disparity.
“The students in Washington state, if you get a pie chart of these individuals, half of these individuals don’t reflect the people who are teaching STEM. We have upwards of 50% who are underrepresented in STEM at the collegiate level and beyond that are taking classes.”
Dr. Allyson Rogan-Klyve, department chair of science and mathematics education at CWU and a co-investigator for the project, discussed the significance of having relatable role models in STEM.
“We know for students it can be really important to have a teacher that understands you and comes from maybe similar background and can create more relevant math and science teaching for you and also serve as a role model,” she said.
The project also involves Washington State University-Vancouver, Eastern Washington University, Seattle Pacific, and Western Washington University. Sorey noted that each region’s unique characteristics require a tailored approach.
“Every region is so specific. We can’t treat community members that are not represented in STEM education like we’re coming down from on high, like we know all things. So the main focus and what gets me excited about this, we’re all bringing our own expertise,” she said.
The project is set to span three years. Rogan-Klyve expressed her aspirations for the initiative, stating, “My dream with this is that we have a teacher preparation program, particularly in science and math, that really meets the needs and serves the communities that send their young people to us.”
In an article posted by CWU, Sorey emphasized the faculty’s commitment to providing pathways in STEM education to create better lives.
