Schools often struggle with teacher vacancies, which can be more challenging in rural schools.
The nonprofit Rural Tidewater Education Consortium, or TEC, wants to change that for Franklin City Public Schools, Isle of Wight County Schools, Surry County Public Schools and Sussex County Public Schools.
It announced Wednesday that it received a $4.1-million federal grant to help recruit and retain teachers across the divisions during the next five years.
“It’s quite monumental,” said TEC Executive Director Pamela Shetley. “We’re here today so that we can push kids to do better.”
With the U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Partnership grant, the TEC created the Tidewater Educator Workforce and Leadership initiative. Through partnerships with Norfolk State, Old Dominion and Virginia State universities and Paul D. Camp Community College, the program takes a three-pronged approach to help with the divisions’ staffing shortages.
“Highly qualified educators are an endangered species that will soon become extinct if we don't do something about it,” Surry County Superintendent Herbert Monroe said during a press conference. “And today we are going to do something about it.”
One part is to recruit new teachers. That includes encouraging current students to consider a career in education and helping paraprofessionals or people seeking a second career obtain a license.
“We understand that if we're not growing our own teachers, we're not going to have the teachers that fill those classrooms for the years to come," said Isle of Wight Superintendent Christopher Coleman. “We have to do something differently instead of just waiting on a four-year school to bring in those teacher candidates.”
The other two prongs of the initiative focus on retention through leadership opportunities. Interested teachers who want to become a principal or administrator can work with Virginia State University’s administrator certification program
Current administrators can earn an executive leadership certificate focused on strengthening their understanding of the science of reading, responsible technology and school improvement.
For Coleman, the grant’s success isn’t just about how many new teachers are recruited, how many stay or the leaders it develops. It’s also about how that translates into the classroom.
“When teachers are supported, students benefit. When educators grow professionally, instruction improves,” he said. “And when strong teachers remain in our schools, students gain the consistency of relationships and stability that they will need.”
Shetley said the grant process was competitive. About 200 entities applied and only 12, including TEC, received awards.
While the grant directly benefits educators, Shetley said its power is how it will connect students, families, teachers, higher education institutions and the community.
“The intent of this program is to enrich children, enrich teachers, bring parents and community into the fold so that we can all move forward and be successful and create economic development for our communities.”
The divisions mentioned are members of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO’s license.
