The initiative is designed to prepare STEM teacher leaders in K–5 classrooms in high-need LEAs who are:
- Knowledgeable, skilled, and comfortable implementing sustainability education instruction across subjects using the NJ Student Learning Standards
- Innovative, committed leaders and resources for students and colleagues with a vision that STEM education includes and engages all learners
- Practicing classroom teachers who continue to serve within the space of their schools and classrooms
Program Details
SISTEM is a rigorous program — offered at no cost to teachers, schools, or districts–that provides significant incentives and benefits for participating teachers, including:
- Full tuition and fees paid by the SISTEM grant for each MTF to earn the required Environmental Sustainability Education Graduate Certificate in year 1 of the program
- A $13,500 salary supplement is paid to each MTF in each of years 2 through 5 of the program
- Funding to attend local and national conferences to support advanced professional development
To qualify for the program, applicants must:
- Teach grades K–5 in a high-need LEA (teaching in a high-need school is not required).
- Teach STEM for at least 50% of their full-time responsibilities.
- Have completed at least two years of teaching.
- Have earned a master’s degree by June 1, 2025. (Interested teachers who will not have earned a master’s degree by June 1, 2025 are encouraged to contact us at SISTEM@tcnj.edu to discuss options.)
Accepted SISTEM Master Teacher Fellows must:
- Continue to teach science and math at least 50% of the time for the total of five-year program commitment.
- Complete the Environmental Sustainability Education (ESED) Graduate Certificate in year 1 of the SISTEM program.
- Assume leadership roles in my school/district while remaining a classroom teacher.
- Provide the SISTEM team with annual employment certification, updated contact information, and documentation of leadership roles throughout the obligation timeframe.
- Participate in ALL SISTEM activities and data collection throughout the SISTEM program obligation timeframe.
- Participate in activities (e.g., surveys) conducted as part of institution project-level and NSF program-level evaluation. (Data collection will be used to assess the effectiveness of the SISTEM program–not to evaluate participating Master Teacher Fellows.)
