HPU’s Stout School of Education Receives Nearly $10 Million Teacher Quality Partnership Grant
The U.S. Department of Education Grant Will Fund Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education for Principals Programs.
High Point University’s Stout School of Education is a recipient of a nearly $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund two graduate programs for teachers and principals for the next five years. The school will receive $9,786,041, the second largest federal Teacher Quality Partnership grant awarded to 22 universities in the nation.
The Teacher Quality Partnership grant is the largest competitive grant ever awarded to High Point University, says Amy Holcombe, dean of the Stout School of Education. This is the second Teacher Quality Partnership Grant awarded to HPU’s Stout School of Education, which received a previous $4 million grant in October 2018.
The grant will support these graduate programs:
- A partnership for a Master of Arts in Teaching program that includes the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and North Carolina A&T State University.
- A Master of Education program with principal licensure in partnership with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, the Alamance-Burlington School System and Vance County Schools.
“This is evidence of the exceptional faculty in the Stout School of Education who have a history of delivering high-impact programs with outstanding results,” says Holcombe. “Programs funded through this grant will provide faculty significant opportunities to engage in research with our K-12 partners and our partner university, N.C. A&T. It is through the fostering of these partnerships that High Point University plays a significant role in developing our community and achieving improved outcomes for our K-12 students. When we grow strong schools, we attract families and businesses to move to High Point and make long-term investments in our community.”
The Teacher Quality Partnership Grant is designed to attract diverse teacher and principal candidates who want to work in the community’s most highly impacted schools. Candidates for these HPU programs will engage in a rigorous program of study delivered by top faculty who have the most relevant experience, says Holcombe. The grant funds will provide students the opportunity to participate in academic institutes, highly specialized training and access to nationally known education experts.
The grant funding includes the following:
- Provision of cost-of-living stipends to allow teacher and principal candidates to go to school full time
- Specialized seminars, institutes and experiential learning
- Executive coaches to ensure teacher and principal effectiveness in the schools
- Development of an educator resource portal
- Provision of support to new teachers and principals throughout their first few years on the job.
“Upon graduation, these teachers and principals will have the capacity to transform schools and improve outcomes for all students,” says Holcombe. “As a result of grant funding, our educators will be able to graduate debt-free and focus on being difference makers in our community.”
Brianna Sturdivant is a first-grade teacher who is pursuing her Master of Education and plans to graduate in 2023. She says she will pursue one of the degrees that is funded by the Teacher Quality grant.
“The Stout School of Education has provided me with what I’m seeking in furthering my career as a teacher,” says Sturdivant. “In order to be a successful teacher, education is the key and High Point University has given me that opportunity. The Stout School of Education provides students with much support and focuses on the needs of their students’ success in the education world. My career doesn’t just stop here, I plan to be the best I can be in this program so that one day I can further my career by being a principal and to teach my scholars what it looks like to be successful. I know that my time at the Stout School of Education will prepare me for the best in order to be the best for my students.”
To date, the first TQP grant has produced more than 75 teachers who are currently working in some of North Carolina’s most highly impacted schools. North Carolina started this school year with more than 4,400 teacher vacancies.
“High Point University is helping to mitigate the teacher shortage across the state by continuing to prepare highly effective teachers,” says Holcombe. “High Point University recognizes that there is a human capital crisis in K-12 education and is committed to preparing teachers, principals and superintendents who have the capacity to transform the lives of children. This grant will accelerate the contribution High Point University is making in support of K-12 programs for the next five years.”
These two grants aren’t the first HPU’s Stout School of Education has received to positively improve area school systems. HPU previously received a state grant to begin the High Point Leadership Academy, which prepares highly effective school principals who have taken leadership roles at partnering school districts across the state.
Tags: funding, higher education, teacher quality
