Support and investment in teacher education isn't just lip service at the $29 billion State Employees Credit Union, based in Raleigh, NC.
The SECU Foundation and Appalachian State University have teamed up to deliver a new rural teacher education scholarship program to Western North Carolina and the Appalachian region. The SECU Foundation presented a $1.76 million grant in support of the teacher scholarship program over a seven year period.
“SECU members understand the benefits and great strides that can be made by offering scholarships through a valued teacher education program. Appalachian State University has a great reputation for teacher education and training, and through our partnership, we look forward to North Carolina’s future filled with high-quality educators who will remain in their home counties to teach, filling the ongoing demand for well-trained professionals in our public school system,” SECU Foundation Board Chair McKinley Wooten said.
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Modeled after the SECU Partnership East program established at East Carolina University, the SECU Appalachian Partnership program will focus on helping graduates teach in their local communities by building upon existing teacher education recruitment programs and programs that support college access and transfers from two-year to four-year programs.
Here's how it works. Eligible students will graduate with a four-year teaching degree from Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education by completing the first two years of coursework at regional community colleges then transferring into an Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education or Special Education program for coursework at one of ten North Carolina community colleges through ASU’s partnering program, the Appalachian Learning Alliance.
Scholarship funding will be used to help college students in their junior and senior years of coursework study, internship and student teaching.
“We are grateful to State Employees’ Credit Union members for their commitment to the SECU Appalachian Partnership teacher education scholarship program,” said Dr. Sheri Everts, ASU chancellor. “There is a well-publicized need for new teachers."
It is estimated that North Carolina must hire 10,000 to 12,000 new teachers each year to keep up with the growing population.
"Supporting the preparation of excellent educators who are prepared to address the learning differences and challenges in the communities which they reside offers a significant opportunity to address the needs of underserved students and schools within home communities,” she said.
The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services.
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