The University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu will receive over $300,000 in funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for a project aimed at addressing the national shortage of certified secondary STEM teachers, particularly in mathematics education, by strengthening pathways into secondary mathematics teaching and expanding access to STEM and STEM-teaching degrees.
NSF announced last month the award, which will provide $302,487 in funding for a three-year project titled, “Shaping Pathways, Hands-on Engagement, and Reflective Experiences (SPHERE) to Enhance Mathematics Teacher Preparation.” The award start date was Sept. 1 and is expected to end on Aug. 31, 2029.
“I’m excited about what this award means for our students and future students,” said Dr. Veny Liu, SPHERE Principal Investigator (PI) and associate professor of Mathematics at UH West O‘ahu. “SPHERE will create a more streamlined pathway for students interested in becoming secondary mathematics teachers and expand access through scholarship opportunities. It will also strengthen collaboration between our Education Division and our Mathematics, Natural and Health Sciences Division.”
The SPHERE award represents an exciting investment in the future of mathematics education at UH West O‘ahu, as well as across Hawai‘i, added Dr. Laurie James, SPHERE co-Principal Investigator (co-PI) and professor of Mathematics Education at UH West O‘ahu.
“This project will expand access to a streamlined five-year dual-degree pathway that prepares future secondary mathematics teachers with both strong pedagogical knowledge and a solid foundation in applied mathematics,” James said.
She said the project also emphasizes collaboration with UH community colleges through articulation agreements designed to strengthen transfer pathways. All together, such efforts can reduce barriers for students, provide a clearer route to degree completion and support more students in pursuing careers as mathematics educators.
“SPHERE will help build a stronger pipeline of mathematics educators who can inspire students, support STEM learning and contribute to the long-term educational and economic well-being of Hawai‘i,” James said.
The award is from the NSF Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP), which provides funding to federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions to promote high quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), STEM education, research, and outreach, according to the NSF TCUP website.
This grant is not the first NSF-funded award that Liu and James have received. They were part of a team that received in 2024 nearly $1.2 million for a scholarship project aimed at developing content-rich, highly qualified and culturally responsive secondary mathematics teachers who could fulfill kuleana to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) students within high-need school districts in Hawai‘i. Together, Liu and James have received NSF funding for four projects in the past six years that have totaled over $2 million.
“I see SPHERE as an opportunity to connect coursework across the UH System and create a smoother, more sustainable pathway for students pursuing teaching, while supporting broader efforts to strengthen Hawai‘i’s educator workforce,” Liu noted.
James added, “At its heart, SPHERE is about creating meaningful pathways for students that connect their educational goals with the needs of Hawai‘i’s schools and communities.”
By combining hands-on engagement, reflective experiences and a streamlined academic pathway, the project will help future teachers develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to make a difference in secondary mathematics education, James said.
“For UH West O‘ahu future teachers, this award represents more than an academic opportunity,” James said. “It is an investment in their potential to become educators who shape the next generation of learners across Hawai‘i.”