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Buffalo State named twice to 5+ Club for physics teacher prep

by jmaloni

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Sat, Feb 21st 2015 01:40 am

Scholarships available for students, professionals who want to become physics teachers

The Physics Teacher Education Coalition gave Buffalo State the 5+ Club Award for the number of highly qualified physics teachers who graduated from the college. In 2012, Buffalo State graduated 10 physics teachers; in 2013, eight teachers graduated. Most years, fewer than 20 institutions in the U.S. graduate five or more highly qualified physics teachers.

In commending Buffalo State, the coalition wrote, "We congratulate SUNY Buffalo State for its excellence in physics teacher education, and for serving as a national model for STEM teacher preparation."

In 2013, the National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics reported the need for qualified physics teachers is greater now than ever before. Of the approximately 1,400 new teachers who are hired to teach physics each year, less than half have a degree in physics or physics education.

"We are pleased to be named to the 5+ Club," said Dan MacIsaac. The associate professor of physics coordinates Buffalo State's two physics graduate education programs. One of them, the alternative certificate program, targets STEM professionals who want to become physics teachers.

The physics education programs at Buffalo State have scholarships available for would-be physics teachers. The college takes part in a $750,000, NSF-funded Noyce Scholars Partnership for new STEM teachers.

"Qualified students can receive up to $25,000 of financial support," MacIsaac said. "Despite the upheavals in the teaching profession, a nationwide shortage of STEM teachers exists, even here in Western New York."

For more information, contact MacIsaac at [email protected] or 716-878-3802.

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