Forty-two Arkansas
counties, whole or in part, are classified as part of the Lower Mississippi
Delta Region (Housing Assistance Council, 2012) (see shaded area of the map
below). The poverty levels in many of these counties are higher than the U.S.
national average. The major purpose of the funding provided by the
National Science Foundation (NSF) is to support the recruitment of STEM
teachers into high poverty areas. Through the N-STEAD program we at
Hendrix partner with our neighbors in the Delta to provide highly
qualified STEM teachers for Delta communities.
