Midwest STEM Alliance
Elevating rural science STEM education
The Midwest STEM Alliance is an initiative funded through a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Science foundation to strengthen STEM education in rural elementary schools.
Dana Atwood-Blaine, University of Northern Iowa, serves as the principal investigator for the grant entitled: National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Midwest Alliance for Rural Elementary Science. Also part of the grant are investigators from the University of Kansas, the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University.
The alliance seeks to elevate the teaching profession by recognizing and rewarding outstanding STEM educators working in high-need classrooms. The program will support a cohort of 18 teachers across four states to receive professional development, mentorship and compensation for four years.
The NSF’s investment in the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program reflects a nationwide effort to transform STEM education by preparing exceptional teachers and creating a culture that values and sustains their contributions.
Applications to be part of the teaching corps are due by February 28, 2026.
Could This Be You?
The MidWest STEM Alliance seeks to elevate the teaching profession by recognizing and rewarding outstanding STEM educators working in high-need classrooms. The effort will support a cohort of 18 teachers committed to advancing STEM learning. Selected teachers will receive professional development, mentorship and a $12,000 stipend every year for four years.
The program seeks to:
- Support outstanding elementary science teachers through a regional STEM Teacher Corps.
- Build a lasting network of teachers, researchers and education leaders to strengthen rural elementary science teaching.
- Improve student learning in science, language arts and math with hands-on, real-world lessons.
- Study what works best in training teachers and teaching science in rural schools.
If you are an elementary teacher with at least three years of experience and can commit to a four-year collaboration between 2026-2030 (with compensation), you are encouraged to apply -- especially rural teachers in third to fifth grade classrooms.
For information, contact Dana Atwood-Blaine at dana.atwood-blaine@uni.edu.