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Making Math Count
VWU TEEMS scholars Taylor Paquette and Haley Sutton make a marked difference during summer internships
University News | August 17, 2023
VWU graduates Taylor Paquette ‘23 and Haley Sutton ’23 got right to work after completing their bachelor’s degrees in May. The math majors have been engaged in internships with Portsmouth Public Schools during the summer as part of Virginia Wesleyan’s TEEMS (Transforming Effective Educators in Math and Science) initiative.
“VWU TEEMS funds up to three years of tuition for students like Taylor and Haley who are working to become secondary STEM teachers,” notes Assistant Professor of Education Clair Berube. “It also provides for their paid STEM internships during the summer as well as opportunities to present posters at paid conferences and conduct research as graduate students.”
The program is the result of a $1.16 million dollar grant the University received in 2022 from the National Science Foundation— the NOYCE Teacher Education Grant. Â鶹´«Ã½rtb's Education Department, in partnership with the departments of biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science and math, have just initiated Cohort 2 of the project. The very first TEEMS cohort, which began in the 2022/23 school year, are now preparing to start new teaching jobs as secondary STEM teachers.
“During their summer internships, Taylor and Haley worked with high school math students in Portsmouth Public Schools who needed assistance in passing the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL),” said Berube. “The high school students' pass rates improved from 0% to 78% as a result of their efforts!"
These recent grads have jumped right into VWU’s Masters in Education (MAED) program and will graduate with master’s degrees in May 2024.
“My plans are to teach freshman or sophomore math and coach volleyball or basketball at my future school,” said Taylor. “I am open to teaching local, but also open to moving somewhere new. Wherever life takes me!”
Haley, who has similar plans for the future, is also playing her 5th year for VWU Volleyball while completing her master’s degree.
“I plan to teach mathematics in high school and coach volleyball somewhere in Virginia,” said Haley. “I am currently coaching for Beach Elite Volleyball Club and will be volunteering with the new men’s volleyball team at VWU in the spring!”
Berube serves as the principal investigator for the grant. Co-principal investigators include Bill McConnell, associate professor of education; Lydia Kennedy, associate professor of mathematics; Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson, professor of biology and dean of VWU Global Campus; and Maury Howard, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of nursing and allied health. Rebecca John, assistant professor of education, is also involved with the grant and manages the clinical side of the MAED program.
Learn more about TEEMS at VWU.