College of Education & Human Development Associate Dean DaShaunda Patterson is the principal investigator on a five-year, $9.3 million U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Partnership grant to diversify and strengthen the educational workforce.
The Partnership for Residency Opportunities for Paraprofessionals, Educators and Leaders (PROPEL) Project is creating multiple pathways to prepare a diverse group of teachers and educational leaders to work in high-needs areas in urban and rural school districts.
To do this, the PROPEL Project has partnered with Clayton County Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and several rural districts connected to FVSU on the following initiatives:
- The project will support 300 high school students and 120 undergraduate college students interested in participating in the college’s Academy for Future Teachers, a hands-on summer program that trains students how to teach math and science lessons.
- Two teacher residency programs – one for paraprofessionals and one for individuals who haven’t worked in education before – will give participants a year-long experience in a school while working toward a master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) degree. The project will support 100 paraprofessionals as they earn a M.A.T. in Special Education and 144 individuals as they earn a M.A.T. in Middle Level Education (mathematics or science), Secondary Mathematics Education or Secondary Science Education.
- Two leadership residency programs will prepare 50 educators to become school leaders. Participants will be able to earn a Tier I or Tier II educational leadership certificate, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Tier I) or a Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership (Tier II) degree.
- Participants will have access to virtual professional learning communities, mentorship and other support as they complete their first few years of teaching and/or leadership.
The PROPEL Project bolsters the pipeline of teachers and school leaders by reaching individuals at multiple levels of professional practice – from high school and college students to educators and other professionals.
“We want to contribute well-prepared teachers and leaders to the workforce, and to center the joy and excitement they have around teaching,” Patterson said. “We’re creating a network of professionals who can support each other and serve as a community of practice.”
Several College of Education & Human Development faculty and staff members serve as co-principal investigators for the PROPEL Project, including Joe Feinberg, Gertrude Tinker Sachs, Gwen Benson, Kris Varjas, Susan Ogletree and Robert Hendrick. Faculty members Carina De Fazio, Nick Sauers, Kristina Brezicha and Will Rumbaugh lead the teacher and leadership residencies.