Graduate Looks Ahead to Nurturing STEMM Talents in Urban Schools

As Lekeisha Sherman looks ahead to achieving her bachelor’s degree in secondary math education in June, she’s finishing up her UC course load and she gained her required experience working as a teacher intern this spring at Clark Montessori School, where she taught 11th grade algebra and ninth grade geometry.

Sherman is one of 12 students taking part in a unique pilot program in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), first launched in 2004 with a $500,000 donation from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc. (TEMA). This pilot program, the African American Initiative for Math and Science (AAIMS), provided full tuition for students recruited into the program to prepare teachers talented in math and science to teach in an urban school environment. As part of her obligation to the program, Sherman will commit to teach at least five years in an urban school following her graduation from UC.

National figures indicate 50 percent of all new teachers in urban schools leave the job within five years – schools in which the majority of the students are African-American. “Students in the AAIMS program are familiar with the culture of the urban school systems. They came from that culture and because they’re comfortable in that culture, they’re more likely to stay,” says Calvert Smith, PhD, director of the AAIMS program. “Furthermore, they have strong backgrounds in math and science, so they’ll be bringing those strengths into the urban community to benefit future students,” says Smith, who developed the program based on decades of his research. AAIMS also reflects the state of Ohio’s emphasis on building skills in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (STEMM) fields.

Sherman is a product of the urban schools. In fact, before she became a student at this urban research university, she was attending high school just down the street. The 22-year-old graduated from the Teaching and Technology Program at Hughes Center. “Four of us from the Hughes program were accepted (into the AAIMS program).” Sherman says, “We went through an interview process, and after high school graduation, we entered the Emerging Ethnic Engineering (E3) summer bridge program. I was awarded English credit and stayed in Turner Hall.

“I always wanted to teach,” she says. “I remember that I used to always try and teach my little sisters.” She also remembers a mentor and math teacher at Hughes as she rounds this last journey to her college graduation. “Mr. (Wayne) Harner was a math teacher and he was always very caring and made students feel welcome in his class,” she says.

“Lekeisha is an outstanding student,” says Smith. “She’s working and she’s keeping up her studies and doing well. She has done a very good job.”

It’s a good job that has also brought pride to her family. “Oh yes, my mom tells everyone I go to college,” she says. On June 14, her mom can tell everyone that Lekeisha graduated from college.

Funding Sources for AAIMS Program

• Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc. (TEMA) – $500,000
• Daniel & Susan Pfau Foundation – $50,000
• Cincinnatus Association – $32,000
• The Thomas J. Emery Memorial – $25,000
• Robert H. Reakirt Foundation – $17,000
• UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services – $104,250
• Financial Aid and other scholarships – $58,659

Total – $786,909

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