School of Education Launches Pilot Program to Increase the Number of Black Teachers

SCHOOL of EDUCATION

Launches Pilot Program to Increase the Number of Black Teachers

WITH A GRANT OF NEARLY $100,000 FROM THE BLACK EDUCATORS INITIATIVE, A NEW TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHERS IN THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MISSISSIPPI – HATTIESBURG, COVINGTON COUNTY AND MOSS POINT.

“This new BEI Residency Scholarship is the result of our work with the Mississippi Teacher Residency program, established in 2019 by a Mississippi Department of Education grant, and our relationship as a network partner with the National Center for Teacher Residencies,” said Dr. Katie Tonore, chair of curriculum and instruction for the WCU School of Education.

“The focus of this new grant is recruiting, developing, and retaining academically talented teachers from under-represented populations. Our program will have immediate benefits because it will allow candidates to pursue an alternate route to certification and quickly place new teachers into classrooms.”

Ten students were chosen to take classes at Carey leading to teaching certificates. The K-12 partner school districts will hire them as classroom teachers. For two years, the new teachers will work in the classroom, meet with mentor teachers about daily challenges and attend seminars presented by WCU education faculty about current education issues. The National Center for Teacher Residencies launched the Black Educators Initiative to assist its partners as they seek to support the development of black classroom teachers and improve student outcomes. Anissa Listak is the CEO of the National Center for Teacher Residencies. “Focusing the work of residencies on teachers of color and, in particular, black teachers, is core to our mission to ensure that students of color and low-income students have equitable access to diverse and culturally responsive educators,” Listak said. Carey is one of only 20 institutions in the nation to receive a 2021 Black Educators Katie Tonore Initiative teacher residency grant.

ONLINE AND HYBRID GRADUATE PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT ASPIRING EDUCATORS TO THEIR DREAMS

MASTERS PROGRAMS

Alternate Route Dyslexia Therapy Educational leadership Elementary Education Emotional & Behavioral Disorder English Gifted Education Interscholastic Athletic Administration Mathematics Mild/Moderate Disabilities Secondary Education Teaching & Learning Globally

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION BREAKS ENROLLMENT RECORD AGAIN

The School of Education has surpassed 1,800 students enrolled this fall. They set a record last year of 1,705, another all-time high and 350 students more than any other year. Carey’s School of Education is now the largest in the State of Mississippi.

Dr. Teresa Poole, dean of the School of Education, said, “We are truly inspired by the increase in student enrollment. It shows our efforts to address the Mississippi K-12 teacher shortage has been productive. We believe teacher recruitment is everyone’s responsibility in the School of Education. We have increased our partnerships with school districts across the state to help recruit teachers to their communities through programs such Dr. Teresa Poole as the MAT Alternate Route Program and most recently through the Grow Your Own Program.

DOCTORATE PROGRAMS

Educational Leadership

ADD-ON ENDORSEMENTS

Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Gifted Education Reading Severe/Profound Disabilities

SPECIALIST PROGRAMS

Dyslexia Therapy Educational Leadership Emotional & Behavioral Disorders Instructional Leadership Interscholastic Athletic Administration