Your guide to teaching STEM in Connecticut
You can make a big impact as a math or science teacher. Here’s everything you need to know.
Author: Kate Moening
- STEM Education
- How-To
- Explore the Profession
You can make a big impact as a math or science teacher. Here’s everything you need to know.
Author: Kate Moening
Our STEM certification workbook walks you through each step, with prompts to plan your next move!
Lauren Danner wants more students to love science. A former research scientist, Danner changed careers to teach high school science in North Branford, Connecticut.
“Impact. That’s what I was striving for,” Danner says about her switch to teaching. “I loved science and especially loved sharing my passion for science with others. [...] I began to realize that teaching was a natural fit for me.”
Danner knows that STEM subjects — that’s science, technology, engineering and math — are more important than ever. STEM professionals develop everything from new medical treatments to renewable energy sources to electric cars.
As a STEM teacher, you’ll show students why math and science are so important. You’ll connect lessons to real life problems, and help students, including girls and students of color, see themselves in science and math. In short, you’ll make a big impact.
Let’s look at what to expect from a STEM career.
Yes! STEM jobs are projected to grow by almost 9 percent by the end of the decade. (1) But recent research shows a gap between the number of students pursuing a STEM career and the number of STEM professionals we need. (2) Math, science and tech teachers are key to closing that gap.
Math and science are shortage area subjects across Connecticut. With in-demand expertise, you’ll have a secure career ahead of you.
Plus, as a shortage area teacher, you’ll have more options in where you work — so you can find the school that’s the best fit.
Many school districts offer special incentives for shortage area teachers. That includes STEM! For example, you might earn a third-year teacher’s salary in your first year, or get an extra bonus on top of your regular salary. Depending on where you teach, this could add up to several thousand dollars each year.
Reach out to school districts that interest you to find out if they offer any incentives for STEM teachers.
Teaching in a shortage area also opens up support like the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. That’s another smart move for your finances! Learn more about loan forgiveness options.
Teaching STEM means more than teaching subject matter. It’s about meeting students where they are, and connecting lessons to their identities and experiences.
That especially matters for girls and students of color, groups that are underrepresented in STEM careers. (3) Research shows that students are more likely to stay interested in math and science when they have an inspiring teacher, or see STEM professionals who share their identity. (4) (5)
Lauren Danner has seen this effect. Many girls in her class never saw themselves as scientists. “But after hearing about my journey as a scientist and educator, they were encouraged to pursue a science career,” she says. “There was a clear correlation between my passion for science and their self-confidence and empowerment.”
You can show students they don’t have to be any one thing to succeed in math or science — and that helps them imagine new possibilities for the future.
The path to teaching STEM is similar to other subjects. Here’s a quick overview:
In Connecticut, you’ll eventually need to earn a master’s degree to teach. But a bachelor’s and teacher certification will get you started!
Learn more about teacher certification in Connecticut.
You can start teaching faster if you get a degree in the field you plan to teach, like biology or chemistry.
But you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s in your teaching subject! If you have a degree in something else, you can take post-baccalaureate classes to fill in any missing requirements.
Typically, yes.
However, if you have a bachelor’s degree in a math or science subject area, you may be able to start teaching before you earn your teacher certification. You can do this with a Durational Shortage Area Permit, or DSAP.
With a DSAP, you’ll lead your own classroom, earn a full salary and take certification coursework outside of school hours.
This can be a great option if you’re changing careers, have worked in a school before or already have a degree in the STEM subject you want to teach!
“As teachers, we have critically important roles in the lives of our students,” Lauren Danner says. “We celebrate their achievements and pick them up when they fall, guiding them every step of the way [...] And after they’ve left us, the impact continues.”
Want to learn more? Our STEM hub has links to tons of free resources — like comprehensive test prep and tailored career coaching for future math and science teachers.