Dr. Tyrone Tanner, executive director of the Northwest Houston Center and professor of the College of Education, was awarded a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, titled, “Applying Innovative Culturally Responsive Pedagogy for African American Middle School Teachers and Students to Broaden the STEM Pipeline.” He and his team applied for the three-year grant in November of 2017 because they were looking to develop culturally responsive STEM educators. Tanner believes that “STEM educators who undergo Culturally Responsive and Community in Practice training will positively influence diverse students to pursue STEM disciplines in high school, thereby increasing the probability they will select STEM careers.”
Cultural Responsiveness, as defined by Tanner, is responding to the cultural needs of the students you are working with and building on that relationship. He said that teachers do not need to make excuses and should take ownership of the academic outcomes in their classrooms. In essence, if students are failing, he believes the educators are also failing. “We have to do more to expose our students to STEM fields as well as take ownership of the outcomes that many of our K-12 students are experiencing,” said Tanner.
Through this grant, PVAMU and Alief Independent School District have created a partnership where select PVAMU student will receive Culturally Responsive and Community in Practice training. In a very competitive job market, once the students complete their academic program and the training, they will have a guaranteed job offered in Alief ISD as a STEM teacher. Tanner and his team worked closely with Karen D. Jacobs, secondary science coordinator at Alief ISD, to create the partnership.
“We track the impact the culturally responsive educators are having on student success,” said Tanner, “In transferring this model to STEM educators, if it goes as we plan, it should reveal that this training helps STEM educators be more successful overall, but specifically in building meaningful and effective school/home partnerships, maintaining high expectations, and ultimately encouraging diverse learners to consider STEM fields,” said Tanner.
He is excited for his team, as this project not only aligns with his research agenda but also the mission of the PVAMU Northwest Houston Center. Working alongside Dr. Tanner are co-primary investigators, Dr. Doug Hermond from the College of Education and Dr. Max Fontus from the College of Arts and Sciences. “I believe in bringing about the success for all of our children, especially from diverse backgrounds…We must continue to close opportunity gaps,” said Tanner.