Remember your first mentor? Now it’s your turn.
BOOST is seeking dedicated undergraduate and graduate STEM students to serve as Science Coaches. Preference is given to applicants with a passion for helping the next generation of scientists and doctors.
As a BOOST Science Coach, you can:
- Work with students in the classroom. BOOST N Schools visits Durham Public Schools classrooms, working closely with teachers, staff, and groups of students to teach and enhance the science curriculum. As a coach, you will get to share your research or area of expertise, lead or help facilitate experiential exercises, and encourage students’ science inquiries by helping with labs and other hands-on projects.
- Serve as a mentor. BOOST Science Coaches are mentors, working closely with small “squads” of middle school and high school students. You will participate in an orientation and training, and get to meet with each student’s family to get acquainted with students’ background, special needs, behaviors to avoid or encourage, and interests. Throughout the 10 month season you will collaborate with other Coaches in your cohort and your squad will work together to design and carry out a research project. We hope that this opportunity will encourage some Scholars to participate (often for the first time) in activities such as the Student Academy of Science, Science Olympiad, and school science fairs.
- Head up a student research team. As a BOOST (6th grade), XL(7th grade) or XXL(8th grade) Science Coach, you will serve as team leader for your squad of four or five middle students, backed by 1-2 high school students as near-peer mentors or Junior Coaches.
Science Coaches participate in two orientation sessions to prepare for your new role. You will learn about the BOOST program’s goals and its place as part of an overarching strategy to increase Durham Public Schools students’ participation in advanced Sem degrees and ultimately, STEM careers.
Regular, informal gatherings will provide opportunities for ongoing support and feedback, and will foster a community of those committed to nurturing younger students from the Durham community who can become the next generation of physicians, engineers and scientists.