Programs



Math for America Boston: Noyce Teaching scholars program – Master Teachers

Boston University, in collaboration with Math for America and the National Science Foundation, is pleased to announce a new scholarship program for experienced middle and high school mathematics teachers. Math for America Boston Master Teachers are educators who would like to become instructional leaders in their schools. Master Teachers must have majored in mathematics and have a master’s degree in mathematics, mathematics education or a related STEM field. They must be employed in a high-needs district in the Boston area.

  • Master Teachers must have majored in mathematics, have exceptional content knowledge, strong mathematical habits of mind and knowledge of mathematics for teaching.
  • Master Teachers must have passion, commitment and propensity for teaching. They must be effective in helping students understand mathematics.
  • Master Teachers must have demonstrated leadership skills or show potential for leadership.
  • Master Teachers must have a master’s degree in a related field (e.g., STEM, Education.)
  • Master Teachers must have high GRE scores (guidelines: 600 Verbal / 700 Quantitative.)
  • Master Teachers must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens.
  • Master Teachers must commit to continue to teach for five years in a high-need district during their appointment as a Master Teacher.

Master Teachers will receive:

  • A full scholarship to Boston University’s Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) degree program in Mathematics Education OR a full scholarship to Boston University’s Master of Mathematics for Teaching (MMT) degree program.
  • A stipend totaling $62,500 over five years.

Master Teachers commit to:

  • Teaching for at least five years in a high-need district and taking on leadership responsibilities in their schools.

Recipients of the MfA Boston Master Teacher Fellowships also will engage in the following activities:

1. Involvement in Professional Learning Communities and Pre-service Education

Boston University is fortunate to have an exceptionally strong mathematical community of learners consisting of teachers, mathematicians, mathematics educators, researchers and graduate and undergraduate students. The many on-going programs at the University such as the Focus on Mathematics Partnership, PROMYS for Teachers, and Boston University’s Noyce scholars program in Mathematics have contributed to its continued growth and sustainability. Master Teachers will become a part of this vibrant community and will participate in a variety of ways. Three specific requirements apply to all Master Teachers.

  • Join a study group with other Master Teachers and Teacher scholars focused on mathematics and how students learn mathematics.  The group will meet once a month at Boston University. Topics for study will be determined by the group and will be aimed at developing professional development activities that might be used in affiliated school districts and will be useful to the teaching profession in general. These might include things like:
    • prepare collections of problems and develop problem-solving curricula;
    • develop strategies for strengthening student learning communities – open-ended projects and other materials that could be used in student math clubs and other student activities;
    • develop materials that integrate technology into the teaching of mathematics, especially in geometry and statistics;
    • offer mathematics-focused professional development seminars and other activities for teachers.
  • Attend workshops each year associated with the PROMYS for Teachers program. These workshops meet five times per year and have a strong mathematical focus.
  • Contribute to Boston University’s School of Education pre-service education program. Some of the ways Master Teachers can fulfill this requirement include:
    • Serve for a year as a Teaching Assistant for a mathematics or mathematics education course;
    • Serve as the cooperating teacher for a student teacher during his or her practicum.
    • Serve as a mentor for a teacher-in-training while he or she is a student in the MAT degree program and afterwards during his or her first few years of teachings.  

2.Continuing Education:

MfA Master Teachers will continue their education by enrolling in either the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) degree program or in a second master’s degree program, the Master’s in Mathematics for Teaching (MMT) at Boston University. Both degree programs share some common features and courses that will support teachers’ development as leaders:

  • an immersion experience in mathematics (CAS MA 547 and MA 548, the PROMYS for Teachers program)
  • coursework on mathematics curriculum (SED ME 558) and on professional development in mathematics (SED ME 589).

In addition, all CAGS candidates must take an education research course and pass a comprehensive examination. A total of 32 credits is required by the CAGS program.

MMT students select two additional graduate mathematics courses on selected topics, including Abstract Algebra, Modern Geometry, Real or Complex Analysis, Geometry and Symmetry, among others. A total of 38 credits is required by the MMT program.

MfA Boston Master Teachers must complete the selected degree program within five years.

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