DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – As Michigan attempts to address the teacher shortage among other educational challenges, Wayne State University (WSU) has a potential solution. 

After beginning the Teaching Residency for Urban Excellence (TRUE) project in Fall 2019, WSU is searching for candidates to apply for a spot in its next Cohort, or group of students in the program.  The program features a masters of arts in teaching (MAT) and is geared towards recent graduates and mid-career professionals in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields with the intent of bringing highly qualified and diverse STEM teachers to Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD) or Dearborn Public Schools (DPS) according to WSU. 

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At the beginning of the program, Ph.D. Provost, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Professor at WSU Keith Whitfield praised the program. 

“Having highly qualified science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educators in the classroom is vital to the development of our nation’s and region’s workforce,” Whitfield said, “Through our investment in the Metro Detroit TRUE Project, coupled with other efforts at the university, it is our aim to provide students in Detroit Public Schools Community District and Dearborn Public Schools with the STEM educators and experiences that spark learners’ curiosity to explore STEM related concepts that they can apply in the classroom, community and the world of work so they can thrive in the new knowledge economy.” 

The program comes with a master’s and teaching certification in grades 6-12 math or science over a period of 18 months.  Students will also receive a living stipend of $40,000 for 12 months while also receiving mentor support during and for two years after graduation.  

DPS is hiring, and the majority of the positions that need to be filled are of the STEM variety for schools including Woodworth and Stout Middle Schools.  DPSCD is also hiring, though the majority of positions are for special education teachers.  DPSCD is ranked the largest school district in the state while DPS is the 3rd largest school district in the state by enrollment. 

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the initiative prepares highly qualified, diverse individuals to become middle and high school math, science and computer science teachers in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and Dearborn Public Schools (DPS).  The U.S. Department of Education is funding 43% of this project, totaling $1,111,126, and the remaining 57% of the project will be funded by WSU according to the university. 

Metro Detroit TRUE, which has a 100% placement rate, awarded 13 residents in Cohort 1 MAT degrees in December 2021 according to WSU. The graduates began their teaching careers in DPSCD and DPS during the Fall 2021 term.  The second cohort began in May 2022 and are working to finish their 18 month programs. 

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“Our accelerated program brings together research-based curriculum and instruction with immersion and mentorship in schools so that our graduates are ready to make a difference,” said Roland Sintos Coloma, PhD, professor of teacher education and director of the Metro Detroit TRUE Project. “We are excited and ready for the next cohort to join us.”

WSU will host informational Zoom sessions from 5 – 6 pm on Nov. 16, Dec. 12, Jan. 18, and Feb. 1 for the next Cohort of the program.  Those interested may register online.