Students gain inspiring STEM role models. Schools gain valuable classroom support. STEM professionals discover whether teaching is the right next step. That’s the impact of the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program.

During the 2025–26 school year, EnCorps connected STEM professionals with middle and high school classrooms across California through its Volunteer Guest Teaching Program. Engineers, scientists, technologists, mathematicians, and other STEM experts partnered with experienced educators to bring real-world STEM experiences into classrooms while exploring teaching as a potential career.

The result? Thousands of students gained exposure to STEM careers, schools received meaningful instructional support, and Fellows built the confidence and experience needed to make informed decisions about becoming teachers.

Inspiring Students Through Real-World STEM Learning

Today’s students benefit when they can connect classroom lessons to real careers.

EnCorps Fellows bring years of professional STEM experience into schools, helping students understand how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are applied beyond the classroom. Rather than simply teaching concepts, Fellows share personal career journeys, answer questions about STEM professions, and demonstrate how classroom learning translates into solving real-world problems.

The impact is measurable.

Of the 1,368 students who completed the EnCorps Student Impact Survey during the 2025-2026 school year:

  • 85.5% said the experience helped them better understand why STEM is important.
  • 89% said their EnCorps Fellow answered questions in a helpful and engaging way.
  • 81.6% reported learning about new STEM career opportunities they had never considered before.

Students frequently shared that hearing directly from engineers, scientists, and other STEM professionals made STEM careers feel more attainable. Many said Fellows helped them better understand difficult concepts by using real-world examples and inspired them to imagine themselves pursuing STEM careers in the future.

Supporting Schools Through Meaningful STEM Partnerships

Schools across California continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining qualified STEM teachers. The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program helps address this challenge by connecting schools with experienced STEM professionals who support instruction while exploring teaching as a career.

During the 2025–26 school year, EnCorps Fellows:

  • Contributed an estimated 1,280 volunteer hours in STEM classrooms.
  • Supported instruction across nine STEM subject areas, including mathematics, engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, and biotechnology.
  • Reached an estimated 1,500+ students statewide.

Host teachers overwhelmingly described the experience as valuable.

Survey results found:

  • 95% rated EnCorps support as Excellent or Good.
  • 84% said they would host another EnCorps Fellow.
  • More than 90% rated Fellows as Exceptional or Strong across every teaching competency measured.

Host teachers consistently praised Fellows for bringing authentic industry experience into the classroom, engaging students through real-world applications, and demonstrating professionalism and continuous growth throughout the placement.

Helping STEM Professionals Explore a Career in Teaching

The EnCorps Volunteer Guest Teaching Program offers a structured, low-risk opportunity to explore teaching before committing to a credential program or career change.

Through classroom observation, mentoring from experienced teachers, and opportunities to lead instruction, Fellows gain firsthand experience with the realities of teaching.

Some Fellows join EnCorps solely to make an impact through classroom volunteering, but among Fellows who joined EnCorps specifically to explore teaching:

  • 60% completed the program feeling informed enough to move forward toward pursuing a teaching career.
  • The remaining Fellows chose to continue exploring through volunteering, substitute teaching, or future credentialing opportunities after gaining valuable classroom experience.

This reflects one of EnCorps’ core beliefs: success isn’t measured simply by how many people become teachers. It’s measured by helping STEM professionals make informed career decisions based on authentic classroom experience.

Building Confident Future STEM Teachers

Classroom experience builds more than interest; it builds confidence.

By the end of the fellowship:

  • 100% of Fellows reported confidence communicating STEM concepts to students.
  • 100% agreed the classroom experience improved their understanding of teaching.
  • 100% said participating in EnCorps was a valuable and rewarding experience.
  • More than 90% expressed interest in remaining involved with EnCorps after completing the program.

Longitudinal survey data further demonstrate the program’s impact.

  • 43% of those initially exploring teaching progressed to actively seeking a teaching credential.
  • One Fellow who originally intended only to volunteer finished the program interested in pursuing teaching as a career.

These findings reinforce the value of providing authentic classroom experiences before individuals invest time and resources in teacher preparation programs.

Strengthening California’s STEM Teacher Pipeline

California needs more highly qualified STEM teachers, and students benefit when those teachers bring real-world industry experience into the classroom.

The EnCorps STEM Teachers Program strengthens the STEM teacher pipeline by helping STEM professionals explore teaching through meaningful classroom experiences, mentoring, and professional support.

At the same time, schools gain knowledgeable classroom volunteers, host teachers receive instructional support, and students connect with professionals who show them what STEM careers can look like.

This three-way impact creates lasting value:

  • Students discover new STEM career possibilities.
  • Schools expand access to high-quality STEM learning.
  • STEM professionals become informed, confident future educators.

Together, these outcomes help address California’s STEM teacher shortage while ensuring more students have access to inspiring STEM role models and engaging classroom experiences.

Explore the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program

Whether you’re a STEM professional considering teaching, a school interested in hosting a Fellow, or an organization looking to strengthen the STEM teacher pipeline, EnCorps is creating pathways that benefit students, educators, and communities alike.

Join us in expanding access to high-quality STEM education, one classroom, one Fellow, and one student at a time.

Learn how to become an EnCorps Fellow at encorps.org/teach.