Departmental support for future physics teachers: Creating community, nurturing identity*

The physics department at Texas State University has recently experienced a dramatic increase in pre-service physics teachers. We attribute this primarily to students’ experiences in our Physics Learning Assistant (LA) program and to the financial and mentoring support available through our NSF Noyce teacher scholarship program. Our LA program serves all sections of the calculus-based introductory physics sequence, and has a particular focus on supporting LAs’ sense of belonging. LA Program structures are informed by the theory of Communities of Practice. The majority of our majors now serve as LAs for at least one semester. Those who pursue K-12 teacher certification are eligible for Noyce scholarships of $10-15K. Noyce Scholars receive mentoring and professional development through monthly Saturday STEM Seminars, which also serve as a catalyst for community among the Scholars. Together, these programs positively impact students’ identity as physics learners and teachers, and their recruitment into teaching careers.