The $150,000 grant comes from the Truist Foundation and will enhance the wraparound services available to students within the Tennessee Teach Back Initiative program.
Middle Tennessee State University has received a grant from the Truist Foundation that will help the university enhance its Tennessee Teach Back Initiative with wraparound support services for the students taking part in the program, as well as introduce a program that will support the graduates of the program as they enter into their first year of teaching.
According to an article on Middle Tennessee State University’s website, Sidney A. McPhee, who serves as the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the grant, “Since our founding as a teacher’s college, MTSU has prided itself on its ongoing tradition of training the next generation of educators to fill the critical role of providing high-quality classroom instruction to communities locally and far beyond. This generous grant from Truist Charitable Fund to support our innovative Tennessee Teach Back Initiative allows us to build on that rich legacy. We are extremely grateful for Truist’s partnership in this effort to train new teachers who go on to serve their home communities.”
The Tennessee Teach Back Initiative is a program of the university’s College of Education that was created to address the state’s shortage of educators. The initiative trains individuals to become teachers in the same area where they grew up as a means of creating a pipeline of teachers and giving back to the communities that taught them as K-12 students. According to the webpage for the Tennessee Teach Back Initiative, the program “is designed to recruit, support, and retain high-quality educators in the state who are committed to making a lasting impact in the lives of students, families, and communities.” The program provides participants with last-dollar scholarships, mentoring, networking opportunities, and more.
Dr. Neporcha Cone, the dean of the MTSU College of Education, said, “This award represents a strategic investment in one of our top priorities: strengthening educator pathways. Through wrap-around supports and first-year induction, we’re creating the conditions that enable future teachers not only to enter the profession, but to stay and succeed in it. The Truist grant aligns with our mission and strategic plan by addressing both access and sustainability, helping us prepare resilient, well-supported educators who can thrive in today’s classrooms.”
Using the grant funding, the Tennessee Teach Back Initiative will enhance the services it provides to students through test prep, licensure support, and one-on-one mentoring. Additionally, the program will also introduce a new induction program that will provide more support to program graduates as they step into classrooms as first year teachers.
Johnny Moore, the Truist Tennessee Regional President, said, “Truist is proud to support Middle Tennessee State University’s Tennessee Teach Back Initiative and invest in the future of education across our state. This partnership reflects our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. By empowering aspiring teachers with the resources and support they need to succeed, we’re helping to strengthen schools and create lasting opportunities for students and families throughout Tennessee.”
For more information about Middle Tennessee State University, visit the school’s website.