Idaho teachers working on Arduinos in professional development course
Boise State University and the University of Rochester have joined forces to collaborate on a five-year, $2.1 million National Science Foundation award through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. With additional funding support from Micron Technology, this program will empower secondary STEM educators, or fellows, in Idaho and New York to become leaders within the rapidly expanding microelectronics and semiconductor ecosystems.
The project will strengthen a select group of teachers’ leadership skills, support the development of local STEM initiatives, and inspire students to explore opportunities in these industries. In line with the Noyce Program’s mission, the award will also help recruit talented STEM undergraduates and professionals into K–12 teaching, advance experienced teachers as STEM master teachers in high-need districts, and support research on teacher effectiveness and retention.
Teacher applicants who meet the following criteria will be selected and receive the associated benefits:
20 Master Teaching Fellows: 10 from Idaho and 10 from New York
Eligibility: STEM teachers who spend at least 50% of their time teaching in grades 6–12
Support: $10,000 stipend to pursue an Advanced Certificate in Teacher Leadership
Opportunities: Hands-on training, professional development, mentoring, and leadership opportunities for all selected fellows
Teacher fellows will receive graduate-level education designed to develop reflection on leadership and support them to grow as leaders within this content. While the programs differ between Boise State and University of Rochester, the content has a high degree of overlap and will provide a strong foundation for engaging fellows in teacher leadership work in later years. The courses for these certificates will be taken over five semesters.
Boise State University: Graduate Certificate in Leadership in Action
University of Rochester: Advanced Certificate in Teacher Leadership
Component 2
Summer Immersive and Experiential Experiences
Across the five-year project, fellows will engage in a series of immersive learning and leadership-building experiences designed to deepen their knowledge of microelectronics and semiconductors while strengthening their teaching and leadership skills.
Year 1: Three-day immersive professional development institute in Idaho. Fellows will explore semiconductor curriculum, cleanroom activities, industry sites, and more.
Year 2: Fellows will design and lead local Micron Chip Camps for grades 6-12.
Year 3: Opportunity for paid externship or research experience with industry partners or university labs.
Year 4: Immersive professional development institute in New York. Fellows will get hands-on training with Arduinos, university labs, and industry tours.
Year 5: Virtual Agents of Change Conference: fellows from both states will share their work and leadership growth and connect with industry stakeholders.
Component 3
Teacher Leadership Development: Integrating Seminars and Mentorship
Seminars: Fellows and project leaders will join monthly 2-hour Zoom seminars each semester, focusing on unique topics aligned with learning activities of the larger project. Guest speakers from microelectronics and semiconductor industries will share insights and engage with participants.
Mentorship: Upon acceptance, each fellow will be paired with an experienced STEM mentor for the five-year fellowship. Mentors will help connect coursework, professional learning, specific projects, and classroom practice while supporting fellows as leaders and change agents in their districts.
“It’s about preparing STEM teachers to be leaders in the rapidly growing microelectronics and semiconductor ecosystems taking shape in Idaho and New York. When education, research, and industry come together, we empower teachers to spark innovation in their classrooms, and that ripple of inspiration is what ultimately drives progress in our communities and our nation.”
— Krishna Pakala, Principal Investigator and Associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Boise state university
Recognition and Partnership
Boise State University
Krishna Pakala
Principal Investigator
Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering
David Estrada
Co-PI, Professor
Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering
Leslie Atkins
Co-PI, Professor
Department of Teaching, Learning, and Community Engagement
Rachel Kamnkhwani
Co-PI, Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology
Karthik Srinivasan
Co-PI, Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Patrick Lowenthal
Evaluator, Professor
Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology
University of Rochester
Michael Daley
Principal Investigator
Center for Professional Development and Education Reform
Mitchell Anthamatten
Co-PI, Professor and Distinguished Scientist
Department of Chemical Engineering
Cynthia Callard
Co-PI, Professor and Associate Dean
Graduate Studies
Jennifer Kruger
Co-PI, Director of K-12 Professional Learning
Center for Professional Development & Education Reform
Angela Messenger
Associate Director of Mathematics Education Outreach
Center for Professional Development & Education Reform
Michael Occhino
Director of STEM Research Impact & University Engagement
Center for Professional Development & Education Reform
Funding Acknowledgement
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award number 2448270 (Boise State) and 2448271 (University of Rochester)
