Voorhees’ Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation Receives $26.7 Million Grant
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Voorhees University a $26.7 million grant to serve more than 850 teachers and nearly 11,000 students.
Voorhees’ Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation is receiving a new Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program grant to improve student achievement in Fairfield County School District and Georgetown County School District.
The REAP: Rewarding Educator Achievement and Performance grant aims to improve the quality of education, elevate educator effectiveness, raise student achievement, and increase equity in learning.
“Through our collaboration with Fairfield and Georgetown, we will implement two tiers of service,” said Damara Hightower Mitchell, Ed.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs of Vorhees University and executive director of the EPI Center.
“The first tier will utilize a comprehensive, data-driven, human capital management system to attract, retain, and reward educator effectiveness,” Mitchell said. “The second tier will provide resources and support the continued professional growth of teachers and leaders in our partner school districts.”
The two tiers of service address talent management, modeling a high-quality evaluation plan, performance-based compensation, professional growth tracks, development of a principal network, instructional coaches for new teachers, and career ladders.
According to Voorhees University Professor Tondaleya Green-Jackson, Ed.D., director of the EPI Center, REAP will bring resources to Fairfield and Georgetown to help expand existing student improvement efforts.
“We believe by providing the necessary support and utilizing validated tools to assess educator effectiveness, we can increase student attainment of state academic performance standards, help close the achievement gap, and improve equity,” Green-Jackson said.
President and CEO of Vorhees University Ronnie Hopkins, Ph.D., commissioned the establishment of the EPI Center.
It provides innovative pathways and professional learning opportunities for currently certified teachers and those seeking certification.
Tags: funding, higher education
