The School of Education at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has been awarded a Teacher Quality Grant (TQG) from the U.S. Department of Education of more than $3.7 million, disbursed over five years. GGC is the only Georgia institution among 22 schools nationwide selected to receive this funding.
The grant will provide funding for 40 GGC students to complete a year of residency in addition to induction support during their first two years of teaching in the Gwinnett County Public School system.
The teacher grant program funds teacher preparation programs in high-need communities at colleges and universities for undergraduate students and for teaching residency programs for individuals new to teaching with strong academic and professional backgrounds. The central feature of all TQP grantees is a strong partnership between the teacher preparation programs and the school districts they serve, which are often facilitated by mentor teachers who coach and prepare incoming educators.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona explained the motivation behind the TQP program and why it’s important to provide support to institutions like GGC.”At the U.S. Department of Education, we recognize the value of supporting our nation’s educators, and we have a responsibility to provide resources and opportunities that promote a diverse educator workforce,” says Cardona. “These programs help prepare, place, develop and retain effective teachers and leaders in our schools and classrooms. Our students need quality educators now more than ever to address their academic and mental health needs.”
Dr. Anita Anderson, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction for GGC’s School of Education, helped lead the successful submission process for the grant with colleague Dr. Amber Ebert, assistant professor of science education, and Melinda Mollette of GCPS.
Anderson says: “We are very excited to have this award. This grant is important to our students as it provides a living wage stipend for them while they complete a student teacher residency. The residency model pairs a student with a highly effective mentor teacher who co-teaches with the resident through second semester until the student teacher gradually assumes more responsibility in the classroom. Professional development is also funded for both the mentor teachers and residents.”
Anderson said the plan is to increase the diversity of the educator pipeline leading from GGC to the school system in critical shortage areas, including secondary math and science (6-12), special education (K-12) and elementary English learners’ (ESOL-endorsed) teachers.
Anderson said the grant funds will enhance GGC’s comprehensive efforts by designing and delivering three key activities:
- Recruitment and preparation of a more diverse pool of teachers to serve in critical shortage areas;
- An intensive, year-long fellowship designed to support 40 new teachers across two cohorts in their transition from coursework to classroom; and
- A two-year induction support model piloted with graduates of GGC’s School of Education employed in GCPS.
A central goal of the program is to support new education graduates’ transition into teaching, increasing the likelihood they will be retained in high-need schools.
Lawrenceville agency is top state health provider for 2022
View Point Health of Lawrenceville has been named Georgia’s Behavioral Health Provider of the Year at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) 2022 Behavioral Health Symposium awards ceremony last weekend.
Monica Johnson, DBHDD’s director of the Division of Behavioral Health to View Point Health, said: “Georgia’s individuals, families and the communities you serve are all benefitting from your dedication to your work. Your high level of performance and achievement is exemplary.”
The Provider of The Year Award recognizes the DBHDD behavioral health provider that has demonstrated outstanding performance, innovative practices, and significant community impact.
Jennifer Hibbard, View Point Health CEO, responds: “As a team, we are committed to delivering innovative and effective treatment to populations that may otherwise go without care and suffer consequences such as homelessness and incarceration. We believe in early intervention and comprehensive care. And together we know recovery is possible! This award is a tribute to the amazing team and partners we have at View Point Health.”
View Point Health, one of 22 Community Service Boards in Georgia, is a comprehensive behavioral health provider in Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties providing recovery-focused care to the most in need population since 1994. View Point Health is part of a statewide behavioral health safety-net that ensures everyone in Georgia can get the help they need, in their community, regardless of their ability to pay.
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