Public Education Foundation Inspires Teachers

School may be out for the summer, but education for many teachers across Hamilton County continues, all thanks to one local organization and their desire to inspire motivated college graduates who want to teach science or math.

The Public Education Foundation is preparing and mentoring teachers for careers in STEM through Project Inspire.

“This pipeline allows us to attract great math and science thinkers to the profession of teaching, said Director of the Inspire Project Mark Neal.

“It’s designed to train math and science teachers for Hamilton County schools. A non-profit partner, which is us…the Public Education Foundation, a university Tennessee Tech, and a school district…working together to train teachers.”

Each teacher receives a $12,000 stipend to live off of while participating in the program.

So far they have trained 6 groups of teachers over the last 6 years.

The urban teacher residency program allows college graduates to be mentored and coached for four years after they graduate from the 14 month program.

“There are gaps in access to quality teachers. Particularly in our high needs schools”,said Neal.

High need schools are defined by free and reduced lunch numbers in a school.

“Here in Hamilton County there are quite a few high need schools, more than half of the schools in our district meet that criteria.”

Right now Project Inspire’s graduates are placed at 11 schools in Hamilton County.

“This residency experience confirms all of their beliefs that they could be a difference maker for kids.”