{"id":240196,"date":"2026-09-09T13:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=240196"},"modified":"2026-09-09T13:05:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:05:44","slug":"uh-west-oahu-sphere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/09\/uh-west-oahu-sphere\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu secures $300K grant to combat STEM<\/abbr> teacher shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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In 2025, 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> students Sarah Arios and Justine Mae Guerrero explore and categorize patterns around the Keʻehi<\/span> fishpond.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To help solve a national shortage of certified secondary STEM<\/abbr> teachers, the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span>–West Oʻahu<\/span> has been awarded $302,487 from the National Science Foundation. The three-year project, “Shaping Pathways, Hands-on Engagement, and Reflective Experiences (SPHERE<\/abbr>) to Enhance Mathematics Teacher Preparation,” runs through 2029.<\/p>\n

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Veny Liu and Laurie James<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHERE<\/abbr> creates a streamlined five-year dual-degree pathway combining applied mathematics and pedagogy, while using agreements with 糖心视频<\/abbr> community colleges to smooth transfer routes and lower barriers for prospective educators.<\/p>\n

“I’m excited about what this award means for our students and future students,” said Veny Liu, SPHERE<\/abbr> principal investigator and associate professor of mathematics. “SPHERE<\/abbr> will create a more streamlined pathway for students interested in becoming secondary mathematics teachers and expand access through scholarship opportunities.”<\/p>\n

Building the mathematics educator pipeline<\/h2>\n
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Education student Madeline Dempsey and Laurie James at 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span>. Dempsey is now a teacher with the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Department of Education.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“SPHERE<\/abbr> will help build a stronger pipeline of mathematics educators who can inspire students, support STEM<\/abbr> learning and contribute to the long-term educational and economic well-being of Hawaiʻi<\/span>,” said Professor Laurie James, co-principal investigator.<\/p>\n

This award marks more than $2 million in NSF<\/abbr> funding secured by Liu and James for multiple related projects, including a $1.2-million grant in 2024 to support secondary mathematics teachers serving Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.<\/p>\n

”I see SPHERE<\/abbr> as an opportunity to connect coursework across the 糖心视频<\/abbr> System and create a smoother, more sustainable pathway for students pursuing teaching, while supporting broader efforts to strengthen Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s educator workforce,” Liu said.<\/p>\n

James added, “For future 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> teachers, this award represents more than an academic opportunity. It is an investment in their potential to become educators who shape the next generation of learners across Hawaiʻi<\/span>.“<\/p>\n

For more visit Ka Puna O Kaloʻi<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New funding paves a dynamic path for future local math educators.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":240216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[1459,554,313,933,59,603],"class_list":["post-240196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-ka-puna-o-kaloi","tag-mathematics","tag-stem","tag-teacher-education","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-workforce-development","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t