Northern Kentucky University receives grant to establish Haile Foundation Future Educator Fellows Program
The grant was awarded by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.
Northern Kentucky University has received a grant from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation to establish the Haile Foundation Future Educator Fellows Program. The program is intended to help reduce the statewide and nationwide teacher shortages by creating a pipeline of qualified and dedicated individuals to become educators.
According to an article on Northern Kentucky University’s website, university Provost Diana McGill was quoted as saying of the new program, “With this program, we are hoping to attract dedicated, high-achieving students who graduate from the Young Scholars Academy to pursue teaching degrees. We are grateful for the Haile Foundation’s partnership in piloting this program, and for the opportunity to train the next generation of educators in service to the region’s students.”
The Young Scholars Academy at Northern Kentucky University was established in 2020 to give high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while also receiving wraparound services to support them personally and academically. Half of the students who have participated since its inception have gone on to earn a bachelor degree from Northern Kentucky University.
The Haile Foundation Future Educator Fellows Program is intended to reduce the cost of earning a teaching certification for individuals who have been through the Young Scholars Academy. The fellowship will provide a reduced cost for a bachelor degree in education for students from underserved communities. Additionally, the fellowship provides employment opportunities within the K-12 camps offered by the university and a first-year housing stipend.
The YSA program director Dan Ginn said, “YSA was built on the belief that fair access to and support through postsecondary education should be available to all young people. We are excited to be able to expand our services to these outstanding scholars and further support them in [pursuing] fulfilling careers as educators.”
The overall goal of the Haile Foundation Future Educator Fellows Program is to help at least 12 students become certified teachers by the year 2030, with the hope that most of these teachers will go on to work in Title I eligible school districts in the Northern Kentucky region.
Bernie McKay, the Haile Foundation President & CEO, said, “The Haile Foundation is proud to support NKU’s efforts to cultivate a new generation of educators, as NKU aims to strengthen the educational landscape in the region and ensure all students have access to dedicated, community-oriented teachers. The Haile Foundation Future Educator Fellows Program is an investment in our children and our communities.”
For more information about Northern Kentucky University, visit the school’s website.