New grant will help UofM transform teacher preparation program

A grant from the Gates Foundation will help the University of Memphis College of Education transform the way they train teachers, building a strong core of educational professionals in the city.

According to a statement by the University, “the training and its U.S. PREP partners focus on common key drivers: building competency through practice, a commitment to continuous improvement, effective teacher educators, and robust partnerships with K-12 school systems and the communities they serve.”

The University of Memphis received the grant, which totals $34.7 million over the course of three years, from the University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation consortium. The University plans to bring educators and K-12 school systems together to share teaching methods and data and to ensure suitable practices.

The school hopes that this updated program will not only prepare future teachers for the classroom but also draw more individuals into the profession and potentially give current teachers professional development opportunities, materials, mentors, technology, and more vital necessities for the classroom.