The University of North Texas at Dallas has announced it received a $460,000 grant from the Texas Instruments (TI) Foundation for its STEM Principal Training Program. The program provides an innovative approach to preparing the next generation of school leaders who know how to nurture school campuses to achieve uncommon STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) outcomes for students.
The STEM Principal Training Program is among the many supported projects of ETI, the innovative School of Education at UNT Dallas dedicated to training and preparing educational leaders with a holistic approach for today’s classrooms. The STEM Principal Training Program will initially be developed in partnership with Dallas Independent School District (ISD) and Grand Prairie ISD and will strengthen each district’s commitment to identifying and developing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competencies and skills for rising school leaders who are tasked with preparing the DFW Metroplex’s future STEM leaders. This program will focus on enhancing opportunities for principals, and ultimately positively impact teachers and their students in historically underserved areas of both the DISD and GPISD.
“Our research shows that principals play a critical role in teachers’ and students’ success and have a tremendous impact within their schools on creating the mindsets, culture and climate required to nurture achievement and innovation,” said Dr. John Gasko, Dean of the UNT Dallas School of Education, on the school’s website. “We know these students want to achieve, and solve the wicked problems that beset our world, and STEM learning is crucial as they take on the complexity associated with a new generation of global challenges. The Principal Training Program will include a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a principal certification pathway that is mindful and inclusive of the latest research around effective leadership combined with innovative STEM education. We are grateful to the Texas Instruments Foundation for supporting our efforts with these resources and investing in the future of our communities.”
he STEM Principal Training Program is competitive and UNT Dallas will offer a total of 30 full scholarships, which will allow prospective candidates to obtain a graduate degree and principal certification.
“We are working to improve STEM education at its root, which includes investing in partners such as UNT Dallas and their programs to develop effective principals,” said Andy Smith, executive director of the TI Foundation, in a release. “Principals make a difference in student outcomes, and their leadership is key to attracting, developing and training high-quality teachers. The aim for training principals in the skills necessary to lead STEM-specific campuses and programs is to help students be better prepared for future opportunities in STEM.”
Find out more here.
ABOUT UNT DALLAS
UNT Dallas empowers students, transforms lives, strengthens communities. Under the leadership of President Robert “Bob” Mong, UNT Dallas has achieved record enrollment exceeding 3,500 students, with an expectation of growth to 5,000+ students by 2021. But UNTD isn’t just growing from an enrollment standpoint – our tree-lined, 264-acre campus is evolving physically, as a thoughtfully-designed campus master plan fills out to accommodate more trail-blazing students. The university’s first residence hall is now in place – transforming UNT Dallas into a residential campus – and a new $63 million student center is opening in 2018. The main UNT Dallas campus is now served by DART light rail, making it more accessible than ever and directly connected to Downtown. Find out more on the school’s website.
