Among the topics in the national conversation on education during the past few years have been teacher retention (particularly for high-needs schools) and the lack of math and science educators in primary and secondary settings. The National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Scholarship — which was awarded this year to 10 master’s students from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) — aims to solve these difficult problems. This year’s winners are Muhammad Al-Ahmar, Michelle Cooper, Samuel Garson, Elizabeth (Liza) Hansel, Katie Heim, Sean Kussner, Anne Lutz, Mike Nduaguba, Shelley Olsen, and Stacy Williams.
“There’s a critical shortage of qualified teachers of math and science at all kinds of schools and at all levels,” says Katherine K. Merseth, director of HGSE’s teacher education programs. “We just don’t have enough, in part because those individuals have so many options for other careers. A huge advantage of the Noyce program is that it helps us make entry into teaching more attractive for individuals who are so inclined but might have other options.”
Among this year’s Noyce Scholars are HGSE students Michelle Cooper (from left), Sean Kussner, and Stacy Williams. The three will be working at Brighton High School. 
