EnCorps Calls Students to Become STEM Expert Tutors

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For college and graduate students in STEM-focused majors, EnCorps STEM Teachers Program provides an opportunity to tutor middle school students as a member of its volunteer STEMx Expert Tutors program.

The need for qualified STEM teachers in middle and high schools is acute. And large gaps persist in student STEM achievement across racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups. 

EnCorps’ mission is to redress inequities in STEM education by opening up access and opportunities to quality STEM education in low-income communities. 

By joining EnCorps, volunteers can help students in need of STEM education support and make a meaningful difference in their lives.

How EnCorps Started

EnCorps was founded in 2007 by former Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing, who was a public school math teacher in her early career, and California’s then-governor Schwarzenegger. 

Their goal was to address two California education trends – falling student achievement in STEM subjects and a critical shortage of STEM teachers – by recruiting STEM professionals to teach in low-income communities as their second career. 

And EnCorps has been remarkably successful in its recruiting efforts, counting former engineers from Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, technology professionals and computer scientists from Silicon Valley, research scientists, military service members and medical specialists in its team of educators.

To date, more than 1,200 EnCorps tutors, guest teachers and full-time licensed teachers have served in more than 250 schools and organizations, with over 125,000 students across the country benefiting from Encorps’ program.

Volunteer as STEMx Tutor

College juniors, seniors and graduate students in STEM-focused majors are needed as volunteer STEMx Tutors. To qualify, volunteers must have a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5, currently reside in the United States and be eligible to work in the country.

Volunteers will provide academic assistance to middle school students in low-income communities who need STEM education support.

EnCorps currently has over 145 tutors for middle school students in need of math education support, but it is looking to broaden its network and continue its quest to tackle the inequity in STEM education. 

As a STEMx Tutor, volunteers are expected to commit to one-hour virtual tutoring sessions twice a week for two academic semesters. The tutoring sessions are arranged by the tutor with the student’s parent or guardian, so there is flexibility of schedule.

Volunteer tutors who are new to EnCorps’ STEMx Tutor program begin with a group orientation and online tutor-training module. 

EnCorps also provides mentorship and coaching from EnCorps staff and an experienced teacher, as well as opportunities to learn and network with peers, including Summer Residential Institute in June, Fall Institute in October and Spring Institute in March.

Students interested in volunteering as STEMx Tutors can sign up here.

Follow EnCorps on TUN

Students can also follow EnCorps on TUN to get news and learn about new STEM volunteer opportunities!

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