Noyces STAJES

About the Noyce Program

The Noyce STAJES (STEM Teaching toward A Just and Equitable Society) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program to provide scholarships to students who are committed to teaching science or mathematics in high need school districts upon the completion of a single subject teacher credential program. Noyce STAJES provides financial and programmatic support to attract, train and retain academically talented STEM majors committed to creating access and empowerment for students through teaching at high-needs secondary schools. The STAJES program will offer scholarship support for up to two academic years to each qualified participant. Scholarships of up to $14,000 per year will be awarded each academic year and can be received by a recipient for up to two years. Recipients must commit to two years of teaching in a high needs school for each year of scholarship received. Approximately eight scholars will be selected each year.

Noyce

The Noyce STAJES Scholarship

  • Supports students who want to be STEM teachers
  • $14,000 a year
  • Possible scholarship for 2 years
  • Must commit to working in a high-needs school

Up to 8 recipients each year!

Fellowship Requirements

The STAJES program is open to SF State undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field and to SF State math or science secondary teacher credential students. STAJES is structured around collaboration, leadership, and inquiry into the practice of teaching and learning science and math with a focus on social justice. All Noyce Fellows will participate in a shared core program: a special Noyce Seminar and full membership in the CSME Fellow Program. The undergraduate Noyce Fellows will take the recommended coursework for pre-service STEM teachers and commit to fieldwork of approximately 6 additional hours per week. Noyce scholars will have the opportunity to participate in summer internships. Credential year Noyce Fellows will take the normal credential coursework with additional assignments and with special school placements. Scholarship recipients are required to teach two-years at ANY school in a high need school district for each year of scholarship accepted. The directors of the program will assist scholarship recipients in finding jobs in these districts and will help prepare recipients for their jobs in high need school districts.

For a listing of school districts that meet the high need criteria, based upon the criteria of low income, see the U.S. Department of Education website. Using the Search function, you can either check on a particular school or download a listing of schools and school districts for a particular state.

STAJES scholars will attend all four CSME Meetings in the Creative Arts building room 126 (Studio 2) on the following Fridays:

  • Meeting #1: 2/2/24
  • Meeting #2: 3/1/24
  • Meeting #3: 4/5/24
  • Meeting #4: 5/17/24

Application

We are currently not accepting any application at the moment.

Qualifications

  • Be a current SFSU student, majoring in a STEM discipline in CoSE within 3 semesters of graduation, or be intending to enroll in the SFSU secondary teacher credential program at SFSU. Noyce Fellows who receive their award as undergraduates MUST complete their teaching credential at SF State.
  • Undergraduate Major in STEM.
  • 3.0 grade point average overall in the most recent 30 units of college classes.

Required Documents

  • Written responses to three essay prompts (see prompts below)
  • Copy of official college transcripts for the last two years (transcripts for credential program are not required)
  • Two letters of recommendation (see descriptions below) e-mailed to jmchan@sfsu.edu
  • Resume or CV
  • Financial Aid Report (SAR)

Essay Prompts 

(Undergraduate Application only. For Credential prompts, see the linked document in the application.)

Respond to each following prompt with a short approximately 1-page typed or about 250-300 words. 

  1. One of the primary missions of the SFSU Noyce STAJES program is to support the development of STEM teachers who are empowered to use teaching as way to increase equity and justice in society.  How does this mission fit with your own experiences or goals in becoming a teacher? 
  2. Describe your experiences in teaching or mentoring students that lead you to apply for the Noyce STAJES program.  
  3. What is something about math or science that has gotten you really excited? How would you share this excitement with your future middle or high school students?

Letters of Recommendation

Please request letters of recommendation from two people. Be sure to let them know which prompt they are responding to.

Recommendation 1: This recommender should be someone who has knowledge of your work teaching or mentoring students.  This can be a supervisor in a camp or enrichment program, a professor that you have served as a teaching assistant for, or a K-12 teacher who class you have worked in. Ask your recommendation writer to respond to the following prompt:

Describe the applicant’s relationships with students. What qualities do they demonstrate that will support them in becoming a STEM teacher in a high-needs school?

Recommendation 2: This recommender should be someone who has knowledge of your work as a student in a STEM discipline. Ask your recommendation writer to respond to this following prompt:

Describe your experience with the applicant as a student. What characteristics do they demonstrate that would serve them well in tackling the rigorous requirements of teaching STEM while engaging with issues of equity and social justice?

Contact Information

Application and questions should go to:

Kim Seashore
Center for Science and Mathematics Education
Creative Arts 127
Phone: (415) 338-7719
Email:kimseash@sfsu.edu