Refuting Myths about Secondary Chemistry Teaching: Getting the Facts Out to Current and Future Educators

Misperceptions about careers in STEM secondary school teaching keep interested students from pursuing teaching and explain why some chemistry educators may not recommend that their most successful students explore a career in teaching. The United States has a shortage of STEM teachers in middle and high school; highlighting the facts about STEM teaching can help to address this predicament. Get the Facts Out is an NSF-funded project designed to give chemistry and other STEM educators the tools to explain and correct misperceptions with data on salary, benefits, and career satisfaction of STEM secondary school teachers. Chemistry educators at all levels can access the Get the Facts Out toolkit, which includes resources to share with students, colleagues, and administrators, and can become change agents in this crucial conversation.