Ball
State University’s Teachers
College has been awarded a multi-million dollar 2022-2024 Attract,
Prepare, Retain (APR) Grant—a federally funded program aimed at recruiting
and retaining top teaching talent in Indiana schools—the Indiana Department of
Education (IDOE) recently announced.
More
than $2.1 million is being awarded to Ball State for a project that will serve six
counties across Central and East Central Indiana. The proposed project will
offer substantial opportunities for teachers, students, and families, said Dr. Susan Tancock, associate dean for
Undergraduate and Graduate Studies and professor of Elementary Education at
Ball State’s Teachers College.
Programming
is set to begin in Fall 2023.
“Teachers College is excited
to work with our partner high schools in this project to shepherd more students
into the pipeline and expose them to the rewarding career of teaching,” Dr.
Tancock said. “By leveraging dual credit opportunities as well as technical and
career pathways, Ball State can assist high schools in offering lower-cost
college credit that is transferrable to any post-secondary
program. Students will be carefully mentored as they move through the
pathways, have opportunities to visit Ball State’s campus, and receive funds
for tuition and books.”
APR
also focuses on increasing opportunities for high school students to enter
educator preparation programs with transferable postsecondary credits;
increasing underrepresented populations among candidates enrolling in educator
preparation programs; improving guidance, support, and accessible data for
recruiting and mentoring purposes; and increasing leadership and career
advancement opportunities within the profession.
“The Attract, Prepare, Retain grant will fund
our efforts to deepen relationships with several high schools in service to
students and teachers. We look forward to strengthening opportunities for high
school students to be exposed to college-level courses that will attract them
to the teaching profession, which they may continue as pre-service teaching
candidates at Ball State University,” said Dr. Kendra Lowery, associate dean for Equity and Engagement and
associate professor of Educational Leadership at Teachers College.