The Developing STEM Professionals as Educators and Teacher Leaders (DSPETL) scholarship program is a six-year project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). It is led by Drs. Natalie King and Christopher Jett. NSF awarded Georgia State $3 million to strengthen the STEM teacher workforce by supporting two (2) cohorts of Teaching Fellows for five (5) years each. The goals of DSPETL are:

• To recruit and prepare STEM professionals to serve as highly-effective teachers in high-need middle and high schools in Fulton and Rockdale counties
• To engage STEM professionals in professional learning experiences for their development as teachers and teacher leaders

The scholarship pays 100% tuition, a full teaching salary from partnering school districts and a $12,000 stipend for each year of project participation.

DSPETL recruited 29 Teaching Fellows over two (2) Cohorts.

• Cohort 1 began in summer 2019 with six (6) TFs
• Cohort 2 began in summer 2020 with 23 TFs

Over their five-year engagement in the project each cohort will:

• Complete the M.A.T.  degree program in mathematics or science education with teaching certification in year 1
• Receive mentoring and support to grow as exemplary STEM teachers during years two to three
• Prepare for teacher leadership in year four
• Hold a position as a teacher leader in one of the partnering school districts in year five