Towson University and Morgan State University have been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to strengthen Maryland’s STEM teaching workforce by developing a new generation of STEM teacher leaders. Awarded in 2023, the five‑year project supports 15 Master Teacher Fellows (MTFs)—experienced STEM educators in grades 4–10—working in Prince George’s County Public Schools. Through a comprehensive professional learning community, the project aims to build sustainable improvements in middle‑ and secondary‑grade STEM education.

The initiative prepares MTFs to transform their classroom practice by integrating place‑based and student‑centered STEM pedagogies and by leveraging makerspaces to expand opportunities for community‑connected STEM learning. In partnership with Open Works, a nonprofit makerspace in Baltimore, teachers receive hands‑on training with advanced fabrication tools and explore how emerging technologies can support innovative STEM instruction.

Towson University and Morgan State faculty lead a scaffolded professional development model that deepens participants’ expertise in makerspace technologies and learner‑centered teaching approaches. As they progress through the program, MTFs design, implement and refine professional learning experiences for peers across Maryland, strengthening the state’s capacity for high‑quality, equity‑focused STEM education.

The project is also expanding institutional resources, including the creation of a makerspace at Towson University and the integration of maker‑enhanced pedagogies into graduate coursework. Additionally, through the Maryland HiTech Loaner Lab and Towson University’s Center for STEM Excellence, teachers can gain access to classroom‑ready tools such as Ozobots, helping them sustain these practices in diverse school settings.

To learn more about leveraging makerspaces to shape teachers into leaders of student-centered STEM pedagogy, read this blog from TU professors Sandy Spitzer, Diana Cheng and Kimberly Corum, and Director of the TU Center for STEM Excellence Mary Stapleton.

Learn more about the grant here.