House Resolution 64

A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMMENDING THE SUCCESS OF WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION IN GROWING THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI'S TEACHER WORKFORCE IN AN UNMITIGATED EFFORT TO REDUCE TEACHER SHORTAGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WHEREAS, since its original inception in 1892 under the moniker of the Pearl River Boarding School, and three subsequent name changes aligned with the respective aims and missions of its identity, William Carey University, the designated nomenclature assigned to the institution in 1954, has served as a premier bastion of educational excellence for South Mississippi, as indicated by the elite success of its distinguished leadership, staff, alumni and current student body; and

WHEREAS, in a time in our state's modern history when teacher retention was on a rapid decline and fewer college prospects were interested in the profession, William Carey University's School of Education sought to change the trajectory of education by modifying its approach to teacher preparation by engaging and inspiring students who aspired to become future educators; and

WHEREAS, home to the Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools (PREPS), Inc., a statewide educational consortium that strives to provide Mississippi K-12 school districts with the latest in research to support student success and teacher and administrator effectiveness, William Carey University's School of Education has grown by 700 students over the past 8 years, with the last three years data reflecting a 240% growth in the undergraduate programs in teacher education, which accounts for Fall 2021 enrollment total education of 1,806 students; and

WHEREAS, having graduated an average of 500 students per year from the School of Education, the university's 2021 Summer Commencement exercises, introduced 593 new baccalaureate degree holders in education; and

WHEREAS, in addition to hosting the Pine Belt superintendents, elementary principals, middle school principals and high school principals on its campus, William Carey University hosted the state's first statewide teacher shortage conference in 2021, and through affiliated partnerships with the Kellogg Foundation and the Mississippi Department of Education, which provided grants for the Mississippi Teacher Residency program, the School of Education placed 421 first-year alternate route interns in Mississippi schools in the fall of 2021; and

WHEREAS, in its zealous commitment to promote and improve the education profession within the State of Mississippi by providing knowledgeable, skilled and highly qualified teachers to school districts with teacher shortages, the William Carey University School of Education developed a "Grow Your Own" teacher preparation program, a three-year program which allows aspiring educators in the program to complete their teacher education degree; and

WHEREAS, by partnering with school districts across the state to send teachers back to their school district to teach, William Carey University's School of Education has become the leading education preparation program among all public and private universities and colleges in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the exceptional work of our state's collegiate institutions to shift the dynamic of the status quo to ensure that our children are provided with the best education professionals who are equipped with the instructional tools and prowess to change the landscape of the teaching and grooming scholars under their tutelage for success, as demonstrated by the William Carey University School of Education:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby acknowledge and commend the success of William Carey University's School of Education in growing the State of Mississippi's teacher workforce in an unmitigated effort to reduce teacher shortages throughout the state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Board of Trustees and President of William Carey University, the Dean of the School of Education and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.