Shaping Pathways, Hands-on Engagement, and Reflective Experiences (SPHERE) to Enhance Mathematics Teacher Preparation

The Shaping Pathways in Higher Education through Reflective Experiences (SPHERE) project, housed at the University of Hawaii at West Oahu (UHWO) and funded by NSF's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, aims to address the national shortage of certified secondary STEM teachers, particularly in mathematics education, by strengthening pathways into secondary mathematics teaching and expanding access to STEM and STEM teaching degrees. This three-year project will enhance institutional capacity and academic infrastructure to improve mathematics teacher preparation, increase the number of students enrolling in STEM education degrees, and create sustainable pathways for students pursuing STEM teaching careers. By increasing opportunities for students to enter and complete STEM teaching programs, the project will contribute to strengthening the STEM education workforce and improving educational outcomes for communities in Hawaii and beyond. The SPHERE project will establish a streamlined, five-year dual-degree pathway leading to a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences with an Applied Mathematics concentration and a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Mathematics Education. The project will also develop articulation agreements with Hawaii community colleges and NSF Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) institutions to strengthen transfer pathways and expand access to mathematics teacher preparation. Building on nearly a decade of NSF-supported collaborations among the project team, the project will advance institutional partnerships and academic support structures to improve student recruitment, retention, degree completion, and career readiness. Project outcomes will include sustainable educational pathways, transferable curricular resources, scalable partnership models, and evidence-based practices that can inform mathematics teacher preparation programs at a variety of colleges and universities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.