Samantha Skeens graduated from Ohio University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She is pursuing her Masters in Education in AYA Mathematics because she absolutely loves math and working with people. When she was younger she would ask her siblings to play school, so she could be the teacher. She explains that school was her happy place when growing up, and she hopes to create the same kind of environment for her own students. Also Samantha was a part of the Ohio University Marching 110 for four years, and she misses it everyday. 

Kouree Chesser graduated from Ohio University in 2018 with her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Through peer tutoring, working with others to gain further understanding of math, science, and engineering concepts, and her own education experiences, she realized that her true calling was to be an educator. As a teacher, she wants to help prepare future generations to reach their maximum potential not only through science and education, but also provide resources and mentorship that set them up for future success in their everyday lives. She also feels a passion to stay in the Appalachia area to provide this guidance and support in communities that are impoverished and in schools where resources may be minimal. She feels that working in a community close to home would be fulfilling and knows that she can have a positive impact in students' lives. She has been very fortunate to have great mentors who have made a significant impact in her life, and many of them were educators. A fun fact about Kouree is that she loves to travel. She loves going to new places, especially those that offer a serene and scenic environment. When she travels, she prefers camping over the standard hotel setting to maximize her time in the outdoors. Starting in the Fall of 2020, Kouree will be a science teacher for grade 7 science, grade 9 physical science and grades 11-12 grade chemistry at Belpre High School in Southeast Ohio.

Akua graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science and then taught middle school. She came to Ohio University in 2017 to pursue my Master’s in Mathematics. Upon graduation, she realized how much she enjoyed and missed working with children and teenagers and thus made plans to circle back to her passion, teaching. She plans to teach high school mathematics and hopefully apply these learned skills in high schools back in Ghana as well. She is most excited to teach math because it is such a great way to be a substantial influence in the lives of children and teens through teaching. 

Matt graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. After graduating he worked as a geologist. He graduated from the RALLY for STEM program in the summer of 2020 and will be a physical science teacher for grades 9-12 and geoscience for grades 10-12 teacher at Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts in Nevada.

Laura graduated from Ohio University in 2013 with my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics and in 2015 with a Master’s in Applied Linguistics. After graduating, she spent three years serving as a zero waste and environmental educator in AmeriCorps with the local nonprofit Rural Action. She graduated from the RALLY for STEM program in the summer of 2020 with a certification in middle childhood science and English language arts. She hopes to teach middle school science in Ohio.

Erica earned a Bachelors of Science in Food Science from Cornell University in 2015. Since graduating, she served two years as a City Year AmeriCorps Member at Mifflin High School in Columbus Ohio, and has worked as a Public Health Sanitarian with the City of Columbus for the past three years. She is working towards a certification and in Adolescent-to-Young Adult Integrated Science. During her time as an undergraduate, she was briefly a trained milk taster in a sensory evaluation study!

Eleanor Morrison is from Hilliard, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry. During her undergraduate years, she worked as an intern for the Columbus Division of Police Forensic Services Bureau and the Athens Police Department. In the spring, she started tutoring high school level chemistry and discovered that she enjoys teaching a lot. Because of this, she has decided to pursue licensure in Adolescent-to-Young Adult Integrated Science.

Connor graduated from Ohio University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Economics and a minor in Finance. After graduating, he worked in the housing industry for four years. Originally from Pomeroy, Ohio, Connor enjoys spending time with his family and playing basketball. He is currently working toward a Master's in Education for Adolescent-to-Young Adult Integrated Mathematics.

Austin graduated from California State University, Chico in 2019 with his Bachelor of Science in Physics. He spent much of his final 2 years there working as a TA in various lower division physics labs and the past year working as a technician in a neurophysiology lab at Ohio University. He is currently working toward certification for Adolescent-to-Young Adult Integrated Science.

In 2018, Zak biked 300 miles from his hometown of Lakewood, Ohio (near Cleveland) to Athens, Ohio in three days to begin his junior year. Two years later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. Zak also performed with Ohio University’s marching band, the Marching 110, as a 4-year member and Dance Commander. His experience choreographing and teaching the halftime dance charts for the band helped him recognize his desire to become a teacher. He is now working towards completing a Master's in Adolescent-to-Young Adult Education and Licensure in Integrated Mathematics as part of the Noyce Teaching Fellowship at Ohio University.

Cassandra graduated from Ohio University this past May with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. She will be starting a part time job at her local church and will be getting married the summer of 2020. She is studying towards her Master's of Education for Integrated Science for Adolescent-to-Young Adult.

Shehzad graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Philosophy from Boise State University, in 2014 with a Masters in Science in Mathematics, and in 2019 with a PhD in Mathematics from Ohio University. During his time at Boise State University and Ohio University, Shehzad taught several introductory math courses where he developed a passion for teaching and learning more about education to better himself as a teacher. Shehzad is currently working towards his certification in Adolescent-to-Young Adult Integrated Mathematics.

Our first cohort of fellows have participated in four outreach events: a week long STEM camp and three community events.

STEM CAMP

The fellows co-planned with faculty hands-on STEM activities around the theme of ‘Energy in our Environment’ and were responsible for facilitating activities with small groups for a half-day week-long STEM camp that ran June 3-7, 2019. The STEM camp was in partnership with one of our partners, Alexander Local Schools. Activities addressed topics such as weathering, erosion, forces, and motion, classifying rocks, density, slope, and programming.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Cohort 1 fellows also co-hosted three STEM in the Valley events with one of our local partners, the Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery (OVMoD) in Fall 2019. The event activities were co-planned with our fellows, faculty, and OVMoD staff. The first two events were held at the Athens Community Center. The first event consisted of about 12 stations organized around a “STEM in the Valley” addressing STEM issues (e.g., creating landslides under different environmental conditions, experimenting with acid mine drainage and testing water quality, exploring features of local animals and local geology). The second event was organized with a “STEAM All Around Us” theme, including a focus on art and patterns in nature. Stations involved noticing and generalizing patterns, experimenting with magnets, exploring a pendulum swing, making observations about characteristics of bird beaks, catching bubbles with various materials, extracting DNA from strawberries and testing different types of knots. The third event was held on the Ohio University campus during Computer Science Education Week. All stations at this event involved coding, and we participated in the global Hour of Code movement. With support from OVMoD and WOUB Learning Lab we were able to provide 12 different platforms for coding and programming appropriate for 3-year-olds through adults. Attendees had the opportunity to explore Scratch, block coding, microcontrols and using Makey Makey to create musical instruments. Using iPads, laptops, and various programmable robots (e.g., ozobots, Loomo, Bee-bots, Dot and Dash) each station featured a coding language or robot and a different task to complete. One station incorporated circuit building to create musical instruments from recyclable material. Over the course of the fall semester, each fellow facilitated several hands-on STEM activities in preparation for these events. All three events functioned as open houses, and we encouraged children and families to move between stations as they chose.

Stay tuned for information about future events.

Oct 19, 2019

STEAM All Around Us

STEAM All Around Us Photo Gallery

Oct 26, 2018

Noyce Grant in excess of $2 million funds master’s program in STEM education

RALLY for STEM offers teaching degrees in math or science for Middle Childhood Education (MCE; grades 4-9) and Adolescent-to-Young Adult (AYA; grades 7-12).

Middle Childhood (Grades 4-9) 

Middle childhood candidates select two subject areas (language arts, mathematics, science, social studies), one of which must be mathematics or science.

Degree	Program Code
Mathematics and Social Studies	ME6870
Science and Social Studies	ME6871
Mathematics and Science	ME6872
Language Arts and Science	ME6874
Language Arts and Mathematics	ME6875

Adolescent-to-Young Adult (Grades 7-12)

AYA candidates select one mathematics or science specialization.

Concentration		Program Code
Integrated Mathematics		ME6867
Sciences
	Integrated Science	ME6869
	Physical Science	ME6859
	Life Science	ME6861
	Earth/Space Science	ME6862

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Eligibility and Admission Criteria

Anyone with an undergraduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) who is not currently a certified teacher can apply to be a RALLY for STEM Teaching Fellow.

All applications will be reviewed holistically, however, prospective RALLY for STEM Fellows’ applications are generally expected to provide evidence of:

1. Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent.
2. Bachelor’s grade point average of at least 3.40 (4.00 point scale)
3. Score of at least 300 (verbal and quantitative combined) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). 
4. Passing score (220) on the Ohio Assessment for Educators content exam appropriate to the desired certification level .
5. A strong interest in teaching middle grades or secondary learners, deep understanding of a STEM discipline and willingness to integrate STEM disciplines, and a commitment to working in high needs schools with a preference given to rural settings. 
6. Professional dispositions appropriate to the teaching profession 
7. (Optional) Evidence of past PK-12, post-secondary, or informal teaching experience or advanced content preparation

Deadline

Applications for the 2020 cohort will be accepted December 1, 2019 - March 30, 2020.

Procedure

• Apply through the Graduate College's online system.
• Indicate that you are applying for the RALLY for STEM Fellowship in the online application by listing NOYCE in advisor field.
• Contact Dr. Hallman-Thrasher (hallman@ohio.edu) to ensure that your applications is processed and with any questions.
• The combined Graduate College and committee review of your application can take 3-4 weeks. Successful applicants will be invited to an in-person or video conference interview, which will include a short teaching presentation (details will be shared when invitations are extended).

Required Materials

1. Current curriculum vita/resume.
   At least two pages and not to exceed four pages.
2. Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
   Applicants should submit unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended as part of the online application. If you have attended Ohio University, the Graduate College will add those transcripts in the system for you. Please note that an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent is required. Official transcripts are not required during the review process and will only be required for applicants who are offered admission. Applicants should not mail official transcripts until offered admission.
3. Goal statement.
   The goal statement should explain your academic, professional, and/or leadership experience in a STEM field(s); why you are interested in pursuing a teaching career; what you hope to gain from the RALLY for STEM program; an explanation of how your education and experiences can support STEM teaching and learning in high-needs middle or high schools. Your statement should also address the factors that will enable you to commit to teaching at least four years in a high-needs school and your experiences in rural settings or willingness to learn about teaching in rural settings. The statement is not to exceed four double-spaced typewritten pages. Please contact Dr. Hallman-Thrasher if you have questions about the goal statement.
4. Academic writing sample. 
   Submit a piece of academic writing that demonstrates both your technical writing skills and your ability to make logical claims and support them with evidence and references. Your writing sample could be a published paper, a paper submitted for a course, a master’s project thesis, or a new paper you construct specifically for this application. Dr. Hallman-Thrasher can offer assistance in choosing an appropriate sample and, if you do not have an appropriate sample available, can provide a writing prompt to which you may respond.
5. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.
   The General GRE (verbal and quantitative) is offered by computer only. The test may be taken at the Educational Testing Center on the Athens campus. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) may be scheduled by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL or through the GRE website. The GRE information bulletin also includes phone numbers for specific test centers. Official test scores must be reported directly to Ohio University using the institution code 1593. Scores over seven years old will not be accepted for admission. Scores not meeting cut-off scores will not be accepted for admission.
6. Passing score on the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Content Exam(s).
   The Ohio Assessment for Educators is a computer-based exam that is required for teacher certification in Ohio. A passing score is 220 or better. You can register for the exam here. There is a test site on the Athens campus and test sites throughout Ohio. Practice materials are available here. Which particular test(s) you need to take depends on the area of teacher certification you are seeking (see below). If you are uncertain about which tests to take please contact Dr. Hallman-Thrasher (hallman@ohio.edu) for mathematics certification and Dr. Dani (dani@ohio.edu) for science certification.

   Certification Area	Required OAE Exam*
   Middle Childhood (grades 4-9)
   Mathematics	030 Middle Grades Mathematics
   Science	029 Middle Grades Science
   Adolescent-to-Young Adult (grades 7-12)
   Integrated Mathematics	027 Mathematics
   Integrated Science	024 Integrated Science
   Physical Sciences: Physics	035 Physics
   Physical Sciences: Chemistry	009 Chemistry
   Life Sciences	007 Biology
   Earth/Space Sciences	014 Earth and Space Science
   * Additional Certification Tests are required during the program.

7. Three letters of recommendation.
   The applicant should not upload recommendation letters to the online system. Your letter writers should upload their letters directly to the online system. In completing the online application, you will identify your letter writers and provide their email addresses. Your letter writers will receive an email from the Graduate College asking them to complete the form online. Choose recommenders who know your academic work well and can speak to your capacity to engage in graduate level study, your background in a STEM field,  your work or leadership experience, teaching or tutoring experience or your potential aptitude for this work, and/or your interest or experience in working with middle or high school learners. At least one letter should address the potential for teaching or working with K-12 learners and at least one should address the capacity for engaging in graduate level study. Do not solicit “character references” from friends, family, or people you know socially. Recommendation letters should come from both college professors and employers or professional colleagues.

Apply Now!

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“It was truly transformative for me, and I know that I would not be the educator that I am today without the privilege of having been part of the program!”

- Erin Litchfield, 2012 Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow

• Work with experienced mentors and OU STEM faculty to design engaging activities, lesson, and units that integrate STEM and connect to the local issues
• Co-facilitate STEM learning events in the community
• Engage in community service in SouthEast Ohio
• Complete a yearlong clinical internship in local schools under the mentorship of experienced mathematics and science teachers
• Commit to teaching in a high-needs school for 4 years
• Participate in four years of follow-up professional development, online (school year) and in person (one week each summer)
• Earn 30 credit hours beyond your Master’s degree in professional development
• Attend and present your work at annual professional teaching conferences

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Allyson Hallman-Thrasher
Program Coordinator
309 McCracken Hall
rallyforstem@ohio.edu
730.593.9713