Teachers Academy for Mathematics and Science (TAMS) Scholarship

Established in 1990, the Teachers Academy for Mathematics and Science (TAMS) in Chicago addressed the concerns with national math and science teacher preparation, especially within the Chicago Public School (CPS) system. TAMS saw severe issues impacting the most needy/underserved students. Their focus on intensive professional development and services for CPS teachers helped equip educators with the tools needed to work in academically under-performing schools serving students from the poorest of families.

Although TAMS closed its doors in 2021, in the tradition of preparing educators to make an impact in underserved communities, scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 have been established to benefit students interested in teaching in underrepresented communities.

Criteria for Eligibility:

• Current, full-time North Central College student
• Education major/minor
• Sophomore, Junior or Senior
• Minimum GPA of 2.5
• Willingness to perform clinical practicum hours or student teaching in the CPS system or in an underserved/under-resourced school
• Preference given to underserved students (defined as Black, Latin-X, Native American, and/or first generation college students for the purpose of this scholarship)
• Preference given to students willing to perform clinical practicum hours or student teaching hours in CPS
• Special consideration given to students with demonstrated financial need
• Special consideration given to students who graduated from a CPS high school

Scholarship awards available:

• $5000 for a student teaching experience**
• $2500 for a clinical practicum hour experience of 50 hours or more per semester**
• $1000 for a clinical practicum hour experience under 50 hours per semester will also be considered, but the full award amount will be applied to the recipient’s financial aid and not paid as a stipend.

**A portion of the scholarship will be awarded in the form of a $1,000 stipend paid directly to the student to help offset costs associated with transportation, educational supplies, work attire, etc. for scholarship recipients planning to student teach or participate in a clinical practicum field experience of 50+ hours

Receipt of the scholarship funds is contingent upon meeting the following requirements:

• Students must complete clinical practicum hours or their student teaching experience in an underserved school.
• Completion of clinical practicum hours or their student teaching experience must be accomplished in the academic year the scholarship is awarded (the Department of Education’s placement coordinator will help arrange these opportunities).
• Failure to complete scheduled clinical practicum hours or student teaching experience could result in removal of the scholarship funding from the academic year intended.
• Complete and return the letter of commitment.

Please note that the intention of this scholarship is to financially assist students interested in teaching in underserved/under-resourced schools and is not limited to only those interested in Mathematics and Science.

This scholarship is not automatically renewable. Students may reapply annually.