Washington State College of Ohio receives funding from Appalachian Regional Commission

Washington State College of Ohio, as part of the Appalachian Educator EmPOWERment Consortium, has been granted funding via the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization initiative. The funding will allow the consortium to help address the teacher shortage in the Appalachian region by training new teachers, which will promote economic vitality and workforce development across the region.

According to an article on Washington State College of Ohio’s website, Dr. Jona Rinard, who serves as the college’s Dean of Technology and Transfer, was quoted as saying of the funding, “We are proud to work alongside partners across the region to make meaningful strides in addressing the teacher shortage and enhancing educational opportunities in our communities. This funding allows us to better support our students’ career goals while also contributing to the economic vitality of our region.”

The Appalachian Educator EmPOWERment Consortium is facilitated by the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and includes East Central Ohio ESC, Franklin University, Muskingum Valley ESC, Muskingum University, Washington State College of Ohio, and Zane State College.

The Appalachian Regional Commission’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization initiative, or ARC POWER initiative, uses federal funding to help diversify the workforces of communities that have been affected by job losses in the coal industry. The Appalachian Educator EmPOWERment Consortium will utilize the funding to help train individuals formerly working in the coal industry to become teachers, which will assist the area struggling with teacher shortages and with job losses to find new opportunities for economic prosperity.

Rinard said, “The Education Transfer program at WSCO is dedicated to helping students move forward in their pursuit of a teaching career, from gaining the qualifications needed for educational aide roles to preparing for teacher licensure. With the support of the ARC POWER grant, we’re able to enhance our program by providing more robust training and opportunities for hands-on experience, ensuring that our students are fully prepared to meet the growing demand for educators in our region.”

For more information about Washington State College of Ohio, visit the school’s website.