BELS in NH is a UNH professional development opportunity, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce program, that supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers to build their leadership skills, equity pedagogies, and STEM content knowledge and instruction. STEM teachers in grades six through ten have been recruited from the partner school districts (Manchester, Nashua, and Rochester) which represent some of the largest and most demographically diverse and dynamic school districts in the Granite State. From the start, UNH collaborated with representatives from the school district partners and STEM professional societies — New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics and New Hampshire Science Teachers Association — to design BELS so the teacher leadership program targets local needs and goals while building on existing strengths.
*We are defining STEM in its broadest terms and can be understood either strictly confined to any of the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics disciplines OR any integrated combination of the disciplines as long as at least one of the disciplines is represented. Computer Science and computational thinking are included in this definition.
Please note, the BELS in NH program is not accepting new participants into the program.
For more information, contact:
Steve Hale, steve.hale@unh.edu, BELS in NH Program Coordinator
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of science and technology in keeping us all healthier and safer,” said Dr. Jahmal Mosley, Superintendent of the Nashua School District, “which makes the receipt of the National Science Foundation’s Building Equity Leaders for STEM in NH all the more timely. We are proud to be a principal partner, and welcome the support to deepen our students’ interest and understanding of these impactful disciplines in improving the human condition.”
"We’re excited about the opportunities this partnership offers the Rochester School District. We have been building our STEM curriculum for several years, allowing us to continue to boost it through the resources and training available to our teachers. Our students will benefit greatly!" -- Kathleen E. Cotton, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Coach, Rochester School District
From Amy Allen, Assistant Superintendent Manchester School District “The Manchester School District is pleased to participate in the BELS in New Hampshire Project. This partnership will build capacity in our educators in the field of STEM. This program is good for our schools, and teachers will have a tremendous impact on our learners in the classroom.”
A University of New Hampshire (UNH) program housed at the Leitzel Center in partnership with UNH Cooperative Extension, UNH Department of Education, UNH College of Engineering and Physical Sciences through a grant awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship program (NSF Award #1950183) which is focused on equity education in STEM for high-needs students.
