FSU Awarded $3.5 Million Grant for Teacher Quality Partnership Project
Mar 23, 2023 10:00 AM
Funding Used to Implement Dual Certification Special Ed, Elementary Teacher Prep Program
Frostburg State University was recently awarded five-year, $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Rural Educators for Appalachian Children (REACH), a teacher quality partnership project. 在达到, FSU will implement a dual certification special education and elementary teacher preparation program. This grant was also approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.
“The REACH project is an exciting new endeavor for the College of Education,” says Dr. Boyce Williams, Dean of FSU’s College of Education. “We are so pleased to be able to meet the needs of our surrounding districts and the students they serve, and we are enthusiastic about our collaboration in high-need schools.”
Partnering with schools in Allegany, 矿物, Morgan and Pendleton Counties and Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District, REACH will utilize focused strategies to enhance the teacher career continuum to increase the number of highly effective and culturally responsive educators for special education in rural America, specifically in Appalachia.
In addition to the dual certification offering at FSU, the REACH program will also feature a two-year induction period to focus on targeted professional learning for graduates teaching in partner schools; a teacher-leader pathway for those educators interested in pursuing National Board Certification; and will leverage the expertise and resources of more than 20 organizations dedicated to improving student achievement and long-term outcomes.
Over the course of the grant, 120 teacher candidates and 210 additional educators will graduate with the skills and expertise to serve approximately 10,000 students in high-need rural areas to help make systemic improvements in teaching and learning. The REACH program’s preparation of this diverse workforce will also address teacher shortages in critical areas as it aligns with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Haley Boden is the REACH Project Director and will provide overall management of the REACH grant project. Boden recently worked with the Title III grant at Potomac State College. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from West Virginia University, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in higher education.
For more information email REACH@dctdsj.com or call 301-687-3421.