April is the Month of the Military Child. More than 1.6 million school-age children have parents who are military service members. These students face unique challenges, including frequent moves and nontraditional educational experiences. Every year, the DoD joins national, state, and local government; schools; military-serving organizations; companies; and private citizens to celebrate military children and raise awareness about supportive programs developed in their honor.

This month, DoD STEM is spotlighting the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Trish Hammond, NMSI’s manager of the Military Families Mission Cultivation Program, shares details about how educators can access NMSI offerings to benefit all students, as well as how to help military-connected students reach their highest potential.

Q. How do NMSI’s programs support military-connected students?

A. NMSI works with school district leaders and teachers to build a strong STEM identity and culture in each school. NMSI’s programs support continuity and skill progression from grades three through 12. We want to ensure that every student, especially those furthest from opportunity (which often include military-connected students) is successful in their own unique STEM pathway.

NMSI empowers teachers, building confidence to teach diverse learners within their classroom. NMSI establishes communication and collaboration among teachers with expert managers and coaches in the field. Our programs strengthen teachers subject matter expertise, elevate classroom room management and leadership skills, and share strategies allowing their students to take ownership of their own learning by developing creativity, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Q. What are the benefits of bringing NMSI programs to a school district?

A. Students with parents in the military often move every 2 to 3 years. We know that when students self-identify as STEM learners (the earlier the better) they are more comfortable within STEM culture. Achieving this is challenging when changing schools. NMSI programs support continuity in math, science and English learning to better prepare students for more rigorous coursework each successive year. Students are challenged, and become increasingly better prepared for placement in high school programs that include, Advanced Placement®, Dual Credit, Honors, International Baccalaureate, etc…

Another benefit is a unique and important aspect of our approach: building communication channels between different grades and schools. We call this vertical team training. For example, a support session for math teachers focuses on learning more about where their students have come from in an earlier grade and where they’re going in a later grade, subject wise.

“Listen-and-learn” sessions are very powerful for teachers because they provide immediate, relevant solutions for keeping students on a productive path, especially during transition years such as elementary to middle school or middle to high school. Teachers have shared how helpful these sessions are in helping them realize where their students have come from and where they are going, focusing on the skills needed and understanding the value of what they teach in their specific grade and how that fits into the overall “puzzle,” or pathway, to strong foundational knowledge in STEM subjects.

With DoD STEM support, over the past 15 years, we have reached more than two million students, 65,000 teachers in 1,300 high-schools and more than 318 military-connected school districts in 43 states. Furthermore, our research shows that nationally, NMSI students earn STEM degrees at more than twice the U.S. average (35% vs. 18%).

Q. What does the future hold for these NMSI programs?

A. NMSI wants to make a bold impact, across elementary, middle and high schools. We work closely with military installation school liaisons, school district leaders and teachers to build an early positive and strong STEM identity. We offer outstanding professional development opportunities for our school leaders and teachers allowing doors to open for all students to succeed. We know that our programs leverage growth and support all students as they explore exciting, positive, and highly rigorous STEM Pathways.

Q. How can educators contact NMSI?

A. NMSI encourages anyone interested in learning more about Military Families Mission to reach out to Trish at thammond@nms.org or visit our website for more information on NMSI’s military-connected programs.