New Director Named for WW Teaching Fellowship Program

A new director has been named for the School of Education’s WW (Woodrow Wilson) Teaching Fellowship Program, which focuses on preparing top-quality STEM educators to teach in underserved public schools.

Dr. Rachel Ayieko
Dr. Rachel Ayieko

Dr. Rachel Ayieko, associate professor and program director in mathematics education, will oversee the program in which fellows with STEM degrees complete an intensive one-year residency while earning a Master of Arts in Teaching from Duquesne. From there, educators can teach secondary mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology in underserved and under-resourced schools in western Pennsylvania.

“I am humbled to take on this challenging but exciting experience in this time of historic change in the United States,” Ayieko said. “I have desired to be more involved in building networks with STEM teachers and building stronger classrooms through collaborative discussions and mentorship with the teachers working in the surrounding schools.”

In 2018, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation selected Duquesne University as one of just three Pennsylvania university partners for the program. Each program fellow receives $32,000 to complete a specially designed, cutting-edge master’s degree program based on a yearlong classroom experience.

Fellows commit to teach for three years in urban and rural Pennsylvania schools that most need strong STEM teachers. During their three-year commitment, fellows receive ongoing support and mentoring.

Duquesne’s first cohort of 12 fellows—who began in the summer of 2019—all earned job placement following graduation. Most fellows are now employed in the Pittsburgh Public School district and in Pittsburgh charter schools.

“Our team is invested in serving the Pittsburgh region, especially because Duquesne is geographically surrounded by underserved and under-resourced schools,” Ayieko said. “Those schools and students require educators that have a deep understanding of the trauma, systemic racism, racial inequality and long history of racial injustice in our society.”