Thomas College Professor Receives Grant to Help Maine K-12 Teachers Instruct STEM

The $5,000 Maine Space Grant Consortium grant will fund the development of a database of ready-to-use STEM activities for Maine teachers.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Thomas College Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Julia Saloni recently received a $5,000 grant from the Maine Space Grant Consortium to create a database of ready-to-use STEM activities for Maine K-12 teachers. The project aims to address the critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers in Maine by providing teachers with classroom-ready lessons while also preparing future educators through hands-on training.

Why it matters

Maine is facing a critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers, alongside a broader lack of educators across multiple subject areas. This project seeks to support current teachers by giving them access to high-quality STEM lessons, while also preparing future educators through practical experience designing and testing these activities.

The details

The initiative is a collaborative pilot project led by a team of Thomas College STEM and education faculty, as well as a Lawrence High School teacher. The team will train Thomas' education majors (Future Teachers) to design and test STEM lessons, which will then be debuted with high school students during Thomas College's Girls in Science Day on April 10.

  • The grant was awarded in February 2026.
  • The STEM activities will debut during Thomas College's Girls in Science Day on April 10, 2026.

The players

Dr. Julia Saloni

Thomas College Associate Professor of Chemistry and the grant recipient.

Elizabeth Andrews

A Lawrence High School science teacher who is collaborating on the project.

Heather Batchelor

Thomas College Associate Professor of Education who is involved in the Girls in Science project.

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What they’re saying

“This project is about meeting teachers where they are — Maine schools need high-quality STEM lessons now, not years from now. Through this Thomas College initiative, we're supporting Maine teachers today while preparing future educators for tomorrow. By bringing these activities to life during Girls in Science Day this April, we're creating an immediate and meaningful impact for students and educators across the state.”

— Dr. Julia Saloni, Thomas College Associate Professor of Chemistry (Bangor Daily News)

“This project feels deeply personal to me. I know how powerful early access to STEM can be. Growing up with two science teachers as parents, I was encouraged to explore my interests and pursue opportunities that shaped my education, and career. As a graduate of Lawrence High School and now a teacher there, I see firsthand how much our students benefit from exposure to hands-on STEM experiences and strong mentorship.”

— Elizabeth Andrews, Lawrence High School Science Teacher (Bangor Daily News)

“The Girls in Science project is exciting because it helps address some of the gender disparities we see in STEM classes and STEM fields in the U.S. We see girls perform equally in science/math through grade 8, but by grade 12, only 45% of girls take advanced STEM classes compared to 55% of boys. At Thomas, we want to change that narrative. By offering hands-on scientific discovery alongside relatable role models, we hope to help girls see a clear, confident pathway toward a future in science and science education.”

— Heather Batchelor, Thomas College Associate Professor of Education (Bangor Daily News)

What’s next

The STEM activities developed through this project will debut during Thomas College's Girls in Science Day on April 10, 2026, which already has more than 90 registrants.

The takeaway

This initiative from Thomas College aims to address the critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers in Maine by providing current teachers with ready-to-use STEM lessons while also preparing future educators through hands-on training. By bringing these activities to life during the Girls in Science Day event, the project is creating an immediate and meaningful impact for students and teachers across the state.