The U.S. Department of Education’s “Supporting Effective Education Development” program (SEED) has awarded William Carey University a three-year, $2.1 million grant for a teacher residency program to train future elementary teachers in STEM areas – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
WCU School of Education’s successful proposal is called “Stepping Up STEM at WCU.”
“Any time a private Christian university like William Carey can get external funding to advance education in Mississippi is a big day. We’re trying to help people answer the call to teach, and we’ve graduated more than 1,000 education majors in just the last two years,” said WCU President Dr. Ben Burnett.
“Receiving $2.1 million to invest in future teachers will allow us to accelerate that growth, specifically in the areas of science and technology, but also in special education. These are some of the most pressing critical shortage areas in the state.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, R-District 4, attended a press conference announcing the grant on Aug. 16.
“We’re very proud of what’s going on here at William Carey. It makes me have a lot of faith in our young people. They’re hungry for a better education system and to be a part of making something better – not only for the state but for our country. This is going to pay big dividends, way more than the grant ever will, as our young people go through the system and become good contributors to America,” Ezell said.
Fighting the teacher shortageThe SEED funding will support 32 undergraduate students majoring in education, who will spend their junior and senior years learning teaching strategies in real-world classrooms from experienced math/science mentors and university instructors. The students selected for WCU’s “Stepping Up STEM” program will serve in eight school districts with critical teacher shortages: Covington County, Forrest County, Greenville, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Picayune, Stone County, and Vicksburg-Warren.
Upon graduation from William Carey, the students will receive a K-6 teaching license with additional certifications in STEM and Special Education areas. After that, they will work as full-time teachers in their partner school districts for two years.
“We pride ourselves on fighting the teacher shortage and trying to make sure we have an effective teacher in every classroom. The teacher candidates chosen for this program will learn how to work with their students to enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills,” said Dr. Teresa Poole, dean of the WCU School of Education.
“As a former science teacher, this is really encouraging to me because many times students are not introduced to STEM content until secondary school. We want to change that, and we want to make sure our elementary teachers feel prepared to teach these kinds of classes.”
The grant also provides the mentor teachers from partner districts with professional enhancement training for three years and the opportunity to earn a STEM endorsement leading to a master’s degree at William Carey University.
Dr. Katie Tonore is the WCU School of Education’s chair of curriculum and instruction.
“This means, at the end of the grant period, the eight partner school districts will have a much stronger STEM culture. Each district will have four new math and science teachers – plus an experienced mentor teacher with enhanced STEM skills,” Tonore said.
Funding the futureDr. Tonore and Dr. Mary Rodgers, WCU’s Mississippi Teacher Residency coordinator, wrote WCU’s successful “Supporting Effective Education Development” grant.
William Carey University is one of only eight colleges and universities nationwide to receive a SEED grant this award year – and the only one in the state of Mississippi.
This latest grant follows WCU’s ground-breaking work with teacher residency programs, which emphasize giving students more classroom time to work with real students and mentor teachers. Since 2019, William Carey has received five other teacher residency grants from:
- Mississippi Department of Education: $600,000 grant in 2019 to establish a three-year, undergraduate residency program in Gulfport and Ocean Springs elementary schools. Funded by Kellogg Foundation.
- Mississippi Department of Education: Two-year, $1.8 million grant in 2022 to establish master’s-level teacher residency program with eight partner school districts in three congressional districts. Funded by U.S. Department of Education.
- Black Educators Initiative: Three grants in 2021-23 totaling $300,000 to assist undergraduate K-6 teacher residents with their undergraduate degrees in elementary education.
For more information, call the WCU School of Education at (601) 318-6142.
In the photo:Elected officials and their representatives joined William Carey University Aug. 16 for a press conference about a new $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Pictured are, from left: Chris Vignes, southern regional field representative for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker; Dr. Teresa Poole, dean of the WCU School of Education; Dr. Mary Rodgers, WCU Mississippi Teacher Residency coordinator; WCU President Dr. Ben Burnett; U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, R-District 4; Dr. Katie Tonore, WCU School of Education chair of curriculum and instruction; Joel Dunagin, district director for U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell ; and Win Ellington, field representative for U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
