News

By Karen Chambless

Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education has been awarded, for the second time, a highly competitive Diversity in Teaching grant by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The ongoing project, titled “STEPS: Systematic Techniques to Equalize Personnel in Schools,” is led by Professor of Education and Project Director Dr. Gary Riggins.

The Diversity in Teaching grant, awarded to only four institutions in Tennessee, is given for two-year periods. Lee is currently in the second year of a grant for 2013-15. Based on previous success with STEPS in the initial granting period (2011-2013), Lee’s STEPS program was awarded an additional $20,000 more than the $100,000 grant amount.

STEPS seeks to recruit and train highly qualified minority teaching candidates who are within two years of certification, as well as any other candidate in Science, Math, Technology, and Engineering (STEM). These candidates should be prepared to serve in high-need schools in high-need areas. The project aims to address the shortage of underrepresented groups among the teaching ranks, especially in the STEM areas. This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.

Included in the 17 STEPS Scholars selected for fall 2014 are five math and science teachers, three special education teachers, one foreign language teacher, six elementary or middle grades teachers, one health and physical education teacher, and one history teacher. This group includes 11 minority teacher candidates.

Since its inception in fall of 2011, full or partial scholarships have been awarded to 40 STEPS Scholars. The STEPS grant is only awarded to those candidates who do not currently hold a teaching license.

“It has been a wonderful experience to help recruit, select, and train some of the finest teachers I know, and I think our local school partners in this project (Cleveland City, Bradley County Schools, and Hamilton County Schools) agree,” said Riggins. “Most of our STEPS Scholars are men and women with lots of real-world experience who bring that edge to the classroom. They know what it takes to get students at every level and in every discipline ‘college and career ready.’”

For more information, please contact Dr. Gary Riggins at 423-614-8193 or [email protected].