MassTeach: a statewide strategy to increase and broaden STEM teacher participation

The global teacher shortage is a persistent challenge that has become more acute since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in STEM subject areas. Using ten years of statewide higher education enrollment data, the MassTeach program was developed as a regional strategy, coordinating efforts by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and faculty across the community college (2-year) and state university (4-year) systems, to increase participation in the STEM teacher workforce. Recognizing that enrollment at community colleges is a socioeconomic reflection of their surrounding communities, which are underrepresented in the STEM education pipeline, MassTeach coordinated supports to facilitate student transfer from 2- to 4-year institutions toward earning a teaching license in a STEM field. Tracking MassTeach participant data afforded the opportunity to visualize individuals’ progression within this statewide context. Data showed that the MassTeach program supports helped facilitate participant progression from community college to teaching licensure; however, no single support was identified as sufficient. The coordinated supports of MassTeach highlighted the importance of intentional efforts to engage with all students and the flexibility required to respond to their ongoing needs in pursuit of their career goals.