Rural teachers wanted

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A new program at Purdue will train math and science teachers for rural Indiana schools.

The program will help ease the shortage of math and science teachers in rural high schools.

18 people arrived at Purdue for the first-ever program called STEM goes rural.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. The program is for people transitioning from a math and science related career to teaching.

The future teachers are paid a $30,000 stipend to attend the new master's degree program at Purdue. In exchange, the they will teach math or science for three years in a rural community. Those selected for the program say they are looking forward to sharing their knowledge in high-need schools.

"Everything is changing quickly. So, it's important now more than ever to have teachers to teach these type of things," said future teacher Nathan Inman.

"Science is becoming apart of every field and it's important for people to be able to compete," said Nikki Wethingon.

"The money is not going to rural areas and they can get left behind. They don't have the same resources, the same money per child," said Lawrence DuBose who is also in the program.

"Get some more people expert in their field into smaller schools," explained Michelle Moreland, another soon-to-be STEM teacher.

The program is two years. STEM teachers are placed into a classroom after the first year.