Amy Morgan, Ph.D., has been named the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s first master teacher for UABTeach, a program designed to nurture and train a new teaching force of highly qualified instructors in STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering, and math.
Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Education and Engineering, UABTeach lets undergraduate students majoring in math, science or computer science receive both their subject matter degree and full teaching certification in four years. UABTeach is supported with funding from the UTeach Institute, the National Math and Science Initiative, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Master teachers are nontenured, clinical faculty with exemplary teaching experience, and are a unique feature of the UTeach model critical to student success. These experienced, successful classroom teachers participate in multiple aspects of the program and implement curriculum. Having a dedicated team of former teachers to teach introductory classes, supervise field experiences and track students’ progress has proved to be one of the most important elements in the success of UTeach.
“I am both honored and excited to have been selected as the first UABTeach master teacher,” Morgan said. “Having the opportunity to be a part of an innovative teacher education program that will help fill the need for secondary science and mathematics teachers is a dream come true for a 25-year veteran teacher.”
| UABTeach is designed to address specific problems facing the state, including a significant need for more talented middle and high school math and science teachers, including those knowledgeable about computer science and engineering, to teach and guide those future workers. |
The first program of its kind in Alabama, UABTeach is designed to address specific problems facing the state, including a significant need for more talented middle and high school math and science teachers, including those knowledgeable about computer science and engineering, to teach and guide those future workers. Morgan says UABTeach is currently in the process of recruiting students into the program and hopes to have 50 enrolled in the Step 1 course, EHS 125, when classes begin this fall.
Morgan began her teaching career as an environmental education instructor at Camp Cosby before moving to teach at Gwin Elementary School in the Hoover City Schools district. With Hoover City Schools for 23 years, she taught fifth grade at Gwin Elementary and Rocky Ridge Elementary and sixth grade science at Gwin Elementary and Berry Middle School. She also worked as a reading coach at Bluff Park Elementary and a curriculum coach at Brock’s Gap Intermediate School. During her tenure as a teacher with Hoover City Schools, Morgan had the opportunity to work with Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform, a national science education reform effort sponsored by the National Science Resources Center.