Wipro Limited, a global information technology, consulting and business process services company, in partnership with the Michigan State University College of Education, recognized 25 Chicago Public School (CPS) educators for their completion of the MSU-WIPRO Urban STEM & Leadership Fellowship on July 7, 2015.
Established in 2014, the MSU-WIPRO Urban STEM & Leadership Fellowship was launched with a $2.8 million commitment from Wipro Limited, and in collaboration with Michigan State University. The aim of the year-long fellowship is to empower math and science teachers in urban K-12 schools to create transformative, innovative and multimodal instructional experiences for their students.
Over the course of three years, including the 2014 fellows, the program will connect over 125 motivated educators with proven passion for teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with CPS to become catalysts of change in the city’s schools.
“Developing teacher leaders is the stepping stone towards achieving excellence in STEM education and preparing young people for careers in the field of science. We are immensely proud of the first cohort of teachers who have successfully completed the fellowship and are set to making a meaningful contribution to high quality education in their school district,” said T.K. Kurien, chief executive officer and member of the board at Wipro Limited.
The program is administered through Michigan State University’s College of Education, and is offered to educators in Chicago Public Schools, the third largest public school district in the nation.
Sonya Gunnings-Moton
“These dedicated, passionate educators will create significant change in their communities through the MSU-WIPRO Urban STEM & Leadership Fellowship,” Sonya Gunnings-Moton, co-project director stated. She is also the assistant dean for student support services and recruitment, as well as an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education at MSU. “This first cohort has shown what an impact they can make in their schools and greater communities, and we are excited to continue to build a better future for the city, students and community in Chicago.”
During their year-long fellowship, teachers receive a stipend of $5,000. As part of the curriculum, which includes face-to-face instruction and online learning experiences, fellows will take three courses integrating mathematics, science and leadership into technology, which the fellows will use when they work in their K-12 classrooms.
“The program is designed to create a cadre of teacher leaders, in line with our vision of fostering excellence in STEM education. It utilizes a rigorous, unique and award-winning approach toward instruction and professional development, with the ultimate goal of supporting and developing thoughtful and innovative practitioners for education,” said Anurag Behar, chief sustainability officer at Wipro Limited.
Working alongside Gunnings-Moton at MSU is co-project director Leigh Graves Wolf, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational
Leigh Graves Wolf
Psychology and Special Education and co-project director Punya Mishra—both of whom are amazed at the impact the fellows have had in their classrooms in a short amount of time.
Punya Mishra
“This has been one of the most inspirational things I’ve been involved in,” said Mishra, a professor of Educational Psychology and Educational Technology at MSU. He is also the co-director with Graves Wolf of the Master of Arts in Educational Technology program. “These teachers work in really difficult conditions and, over the past year, have surprised and impressed us with their work, dedication and passion. They have given back to us as instructors in some ways, perhaps, more than we’ve given to them. They have enriched our lives and made us really proud and happy.”
About Wipro Ltd.
Wipro Ltd. (NYSE:WIT) is a leading Information Technology, Consulting and Business Process Services company that delivers solutions to enable its clients do business better. Wipro delivers winning business outcomes through its deep industry experience and a 360 degree view of “Business through Technology” – helping clients create successful and adaptive businesses. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, a practitioner’s approach to delivering innovation, and an organization wide commitment to sustainability, Wipro has a workforce of over 150,000, serving clients in 175+ cities across 6 continents. For more information, please visit www.wipro.com