Members of N.M. Delegation Welcome Nearly $1.5 Million to Support STEM Educators at the University of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) welcomed $1,499,999 in funding for the University of New Mexico (UNM) to help develop teacher leadership pathways for K-12 science educators. This funding was made possible through a recent National Science Foundation (NSF) project that aims to address the challenge of teacher shortages in high-need school districts, particularly in STEM areas. 

By creating strong partnerships between UNM, the New Mexico Science Teachers Association, school districts, national labs, STEM businesses and community organizations, this innovative partnership will help develop, mentor and retain highly effective STEM educators for New Mexico students. It will also support research on the effectiveness and retention of K-12 STEM teachers in high-need school districts.

“By better recruiting and retaining New Mexico’s K-12 science educators, we invest in kids’ natural curiosity and their promising futures.  This National Science Foundation grant to the University of New Mexico will help us do exactly that, building an ecosystem of community partners to give kids the teachers they need to be the scientists they naturally are. I’m excited to welcome this investment and look forward to seeing the great work that comes out of it,” said Heinrich.

“New Mexico is a hub for scientific and technological development and it’s fundamental that we have the absolutely best professionals in our classrooms to prepare the next generation of students for these evolving industries,” said Luján. “I’m proud to welcome this investment of nearly $1.5 million to help support science and STEM teacher leadership pathways that will improve outcomes for students in rural, high-need schools across our state.” 

“New Mexico is a STEM powerhouse, and as a former STEM educator, I am excited to see this nearly $1.5 million in federal funding reach our rural and underserved students via UNM’s powerful community outreach,” said Stansbury. “One of my goals in Congress is to expand the pathways for young New Mexicans to push the bounds of scientific discovery and grow our local economies. I will continue to work in partnership with our delegation to champion resources for New Mexico’s students in Congress.”

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