Profile of an Elementary STEM Educator

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Published: Jun 2, 2020

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Sharon Wensel Bowers
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Jeremy V. Ernst
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Thomas O. Williams
Virginia Tech

Abstract

Recent developments in initiatives, standards, and legislative agendas have led to increases in the number of STEM educators, in particular elementary STEM educators. This study investigates and reports the characteristics and credentials of this group and explores the features and characteristics of the student population within their classrooms. These criteria were analyzed over nearly a decade in efforts to identify progressions and changes in response to national demands. Data for this study was gathered from the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) School and Staffing Survey Teacher Questionnaire (SASS TQ and documents a significant increase in the number of full-time elementary STEM educators, depicting the current profile of these educators as largely female, mid-career, and fully certified with a bachelor’s degree from a traditional teacher preparation program.  Trends support that this group is becoming more diversified with more seeking graduate degrees and more earning certification via alternative programming.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2020): Journal of STEM Education: Innovation and Research
Section
Articles
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the Institute for STEM Education and Research with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.
Author Biography

Sharon Wensel Bowers, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Sharon W. Bowers, EdD is a Senior STEM education specialist for the Center for Integrative STEM Education (CISE) at the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). She is a PAEMST award winning educator.