Our Mission
Our mission is to recruit and prepare a diverse corps of STEM teachers committed and equipped to advance opportunities for all children to authentically engage in STEM inquiry through responsive, culturally sustaining and social change pedagogies.
Terrapin Teacher Partners
Our local school district partners are so important and are an integral part of the success of the program. Local public school teachers work closely with our undergraduates to develop inquiry-based lessons in science and math. Teachers provide constructive feedback to help undergraduates build upon their knowledge base.
Montgomery County Public Schools
Prince George's County Public Schools
Our Program
The Terrapin Teachers (TT) Initiative is an innovative undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) middle school science and math and secondary education certification pathway at the University of Maryland, based on the national UTeach model, designed to address the local and national shortage of highly skilled STEM K-12 teachers. TT was implemented in Fall 2014 as a collaborative initiative of the Provost’s Office, the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS), and the College of Education. TT offers science and math majors a career option they may not have considered and provides them with various pathways to teaching certification, such as the opportunity to complete a double major in a STEM field plus secondary education with certification in four years, or complete an undergraduate STEM major and a masters degree certification program in five years. Under the guidance of our highly experienced Master Teachers, students receive early immersive field experiences in local public schools.
WHAT TERRAPIN TEACHERS OFFERS:
An integrated degree program - students will receive a bachelor's degree in science or math along with a teacher certification.
Opportunities for students to teach science or math lessons in elementary and middle schools.
A strong focus on research-based strategies that provides opportunities for students to engage in scientific research.
Personal guidance from experienced school teachers and faculty from the university.
Have any more questions? Check out our FAQs Page