Georgia Power is invested in helping Augusta University improve the teacher workforce in Richmond County.
The company is committing $200,000 and the College of Education and Human Development is planning on launching the Richmond Recruitment and Retention, or R3 initiative, with the funds, according to a press release from Augusta University.
The goal of the R3 initiative is to recruit more high school seniors, especially male minority students, into an education career. The reason behind getting more minority students is because nearly 85% of Richmond County students are members of a minority group.
“We are trying to create more diversity by recruiting differently and providing the support that is needed to retain teachers who are members of minority groups,” said Judi Wilson, Ph.D., dean of COEHD. “I’ve had students say, ‘Dean Wilson, I went all the way through school, and I never had any teachers who looked like me except for a coach.’ Those role models are really important.”
The R3 Initiative will encourage groups to assist in recruitment and retention efforts.
“We gravitate toward like-minded people,” Wilson said. “We want to create intentional support systems, so students feel engaged and like they are part of a community.”
Other recruitment and retention efforts will include securing leadership candidates to support first- through third-year teachers and involving retired teachers in observation, mentoring and support of the most at-risk education degree candidates and young teachers.
The university is reaching out to teachers who have a degree in something that is not education and have received a waiver in Richmond County.
“We recognize that these teachers are at risk because they haven’t been fully trained, and we are sending them out into the field to serve,” Wilson said. “We want to help prepare them for success.”
In Richmond County public school last year, there were more than 450 teachers with a waiver. A waiver, which is intended to help with teacher shortages, must be approved by the Georgia Professional Standards. It also allows candidates who are qualified to teach while completing all the requirements for the certification.
Some of the funds from Georgia Power will also provide partial scholarships to help teachers earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from AU.
AU is partnering with the school system to facilitate education credits and professional development for these teachers. Furthermore, a portion of the Georgia Power funding will provide partial scholarships to assist teachers in earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from AU – in just two years – through an online MAT program.
“The MAT online is catered to adult learners,” Wilson said.
There are many barriers for adults to go back to school, including money and raising children, so the online option helps teachers with a waiver to accommodate the additional coursework within their busy lives.
In the past, Georgia Power has collaborated with AU and supported minority male teacher recruitment.
“Georgia is our home and has been for over 100 years,” said Kerry Bridges, Georgia Power Region Executive for the Augusta area. “Georgia Power Foundation continues to support education and workforce development initiatives that align with our vales through exciting partnerships like the R3 Initiative to power Georgia’s growing economy, our communities, and our next generation workforce well into the future.”
“We’re really excited to be partnering with Georgia Power to create the R3 initiative,” said Wilson. “They are incredible partners, and we are very blessed to have them in our community and to have them investing in the future of education.”
