Applications now open for Academic Year 2025-26

About STEM-ACT

Who we are

STEM Advancement through Collaboration in Teacher Preparation (STEM-ACT) is a partnership between Westfield State Unversity and school districts in Western Massachusetts dedicated to a world where all students experience belonging, engagement, and success in learning spaces dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Partner Institutions

Westfield State University - Explore. Experience. Excel.
Holyoke Public Schools - Juntos Podemos | Together We Can
Springfield Public Schools - A Culture of Equity and Proficiency

Community of Practice

STEM-ACT is built around a community of practice comprised of faculty in STEM education, teachers and teacher leaders in regional districts, pre-service teacher candidates, and early career teachers who graduated from WSU.

Our aim is to

improve secondary STEM teacher preparation at WSU and STEM teaching and learning at the partner schools;
increase the interest and recruitment of future STEM teachers from area high-need districts through career exposure and social justice opportunities in STEM teaching; and
increase the number of qualified STEM teachers who serve and are retained in high-need districts.

2024 News: STEM-ACT Scholarship Program

Funded through a Noyce grant from the National Science Foundation (Award #: 2344950), STEM-ACT is excited to be able to offer significant scholarship support for junior and senior STEM majors preparing to teach STEM in high need school districts. NSF Noyce programs address the need to prepare and retain highly effective mathematics and science teachers and teacher leaders in high-need school districts. See a WSU news item with the grant annoucement.

People

Faculty

Megan Kennedy (Education): mkennedy@westfield.ma.edu
Arne Christensen (Biology): achristensen@westfield.ma.edu
Jessica Stephens (Biology): jstephens@westfield.ma.edu
Shannon Gleason (Education): sgleason@westfield.ma.edu
Christine von Renesse (Math): cvonrenesse@westfield.ma.edu
Volker Ecke (Math): vecke@westfield.ma.edu

STEM-ACT Scholars

Aidan Robert (2024, Biology)
Jessica Peitzsch (2024, Biology)
John Pierce (2024, Mathematics)
Kyle Morandi (2024, Mathematics)
Maddie Boyer (2024, Mathematics)
Noah de Ruiter (2024, Mathematics)
Olivia Stafford (2024, Mathematics)

STEM-ACT Interns

Abby Burgess (2025, Biology, Agawam Schools)
Aliceya Lopez (2025, Mathematics, Holyoke Schools)
Greta Halford (2025, Biology, Agawam Schools)
Lily Reynolds (2025, Mathematics, Berkshire High)
Madison DellaGiustina (2025, Mathematics, Pioneer Valley School of Performing Arts)

Partner Teachers

Our partner teachers are not currently listed here. Please contact us if you want to get in touch with them.

Resources and Publications

Publications and Reports

Will be updated as the project progresses.

Regional Resources for STEM Teachers

The Pioneer Valley STEM Network provides STEM resources and mini-grants for teachers to help increase student participation in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.
Western Massachusetts Mathematics Partnership (WMMP) - This partnership of regional teachers in mathematics grades K-16 features vertical collaboration from pre-K to senior-level college undergraduates among educators throughout western Massachusetts. WMMP is a peer-led partnership that offers mathematics educators a community, workshops and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), e.g. Spring 2025: Using Assessments to Guide Instruction. Contact Tara Brandt, the WMMP coordinator.

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