The School of Training and Human Efficiency at Southern Arkansas College has been chosen as one among two part II recipients of a grant from Ahead Arkansas.  SAU is being awarded $798,830 as a part of the implementation of part II.  This grant is part of the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Design Collaborative to assist in complete ongoing technical help from professional companions and to extend the amount, high quality, and variety of Arkansas’s instructor workforce. SAU shall be receiving direct funding and complete ongoing technical assurance that totals greater than 1.9 million {dollars}.

The EPP Design Collaborative, a aggressive grant initiative to search out establishments dedicated to assuaging Arkansas’s instructor scarcity, was launched by Ahead in 2021. Ever since, Ahead has helped companion schools create part II plans for transformation utilizing instruments and recommendation from U.S. Prep and 2Revolutions, two main nationwide consultants. Sixteen of Arkansas’s 19 universities EPP’s utilized for the Design Collaborative, and eight had been chosen throughout part I. The recipients of the part II grants are SAU and the College of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA-Little Rock).

“Our division actually believes that each candidate ‘comes with a goal and leaves with a promise,’” remarks Dr. Neelie Dobbins, chair of the division of instructor training. “Our promise is to arrange each candidate to be day one prepared academics to assist all learners achieve success. We’re excited for the help from Ahead Arkansas as we rework training in south Arkansas.”

The objectives for SAU emphasize increasing the amount and number of candidates making use of to and finishing this system and altering the general teacher-candidate expertise to be extra practice-based in order that academics are ready for his or her lecture rooms on day one. The plans embody a number of improvements:

• 12 months-long paid residency applications the place candidates spend the 12 months working in a companion college as a resident instructor, all whereas nonetheless in coaching and with the help of devoted mentor academics.
• Cooperative partnerships with regional college districts.
• The gathering of complete information on instructor candidates and graduates of their first 5 years within the area.

“SAU put ahead a transformative imaginative and prescient and plan for his or her educator preparation program that has the potential to be a mannequin for the state,” remarks Govt Director of Ahead Arkansas Ben Kutylo. “Our hope is that this grant and the implementation help they obtain from our companions will assist SAU make their imaginative and prescient a actuality over the following three years.”

With funding from the Walton Household Basis and Winthrop Rockefeller Basis, Ahead Arkansas was based in 2014 with the aim of enhancing pupil outcomes general. Ahead Arkansas collaborates with districts, colleges, academic companions, and state leaders to reform training, strengthen educator capability, and supply equitable sources so that each pupil has entry to and is supplied for alternatives in life and the office. Go to www.forwardarkansas.org to be taught extra.

Southern Arkansas College supplies college students with the whole school expertise in a caring surroundings of service, innovation, and group. With greater than 100 levels in 4 distinct schools and the College of Graduate Research, SAU initiates new diploma applications to suit the wants of profession {and professional} developments of immediately.

To be taught extra about SAU, go to www.saumag.edu.