William Carey University invites aspiring classroom teachers from eight public school districts to apply for its Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program – twice as many as when the program was first announced.
In December, the Mississippi Department of Education awarded a $1.9 million grant to William Carey University to launch an MTR program in partnership with four public school districts – Covington, Forrest, Greenville, and Hattiesburg. Four more school districts now join the MTR partnership – Laurel, Picayune, Vicksburg-Warren, and Yazoo County.
“We are reaching across the state to help as many districts as possible fill vacancies. Many of these are smaller districts in rural areas,” said Dr. Mary Rodgers, WCU’s Mississippi Teacher Residency coordinator.
The MTR program offers people who already have a bachelor’s degree in any field the chance to earn a master’s degree in elementary education and a special education endorsement. It’s a graduate program that combines college coursework and job-embedded training to prepare the next generation of teachers for classroom careers in areas where the teacher shortage is critical.
“Students chosen as William Carey teacher residents will be embedded in a K-12 school community and become part of the school family. Graduates of the program will commit to work at these districts for three years,” Rodgers said.
Each MTR student will receive a full scholarship, including textbooks, support for required licensure examinations, one-on-one teacher mentors, and support from university faculty.
School Superintendent Babette Duty of Covington County said the program is a vital part of the solution to Mississippi’s teacher shortage.
“The Mississippi Teacher Residency grant has expanded our recruitment impact exponentially and will make our efforts more effective. We are looking forward to adding to our current faculty candidates that have been found through our grant partners,” Duty said.
“The teacher resident candidates we have tapped to move to the next level have the potential to be quality teachers who will provide sound instruction for our students on a long-term basis.”
Michael Battle, assistant superintendent of the Hattiesburg Public School District, agreed.
“We’re excited to participate in the Mississippi Teacher Residency program through a partnership with William Carey University. It’s an excellent opportunity for Hattiesburg Public Schools to recruit, train, and ultimately hire qualified teachers,” Battle said.
Students chosen for William Carey’s MTR program will meet for orientation and classes this summer. Work with the eight school districts begins in August.
