Overview
Oklahoma Teacher Connection Collegiate Grants are one-year grants that encourage the recruitment, retention and placement efforts of teachers in Oklahoma. In fulfilling OTC goals and objectives, these grants vary in activity and scope, supporting pre-collegiate student visitations to colleges of education, visitations of higher education representatives to K-12 schools, student tutoring and college preparation sessions, conferences and workshops, and professional development for current teachers.
2023-24 OTC Collegiate Grant Partners
Cameron University – An Innovative Approach for Professional Development in Astronomy for Oklahoma STEM Teachers is a grant to retain science teachers across Oklahoma who are instructing sixth-ninth grade students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). These workshops will support teachers in the implementation of particular science topics and hands-on learning strategies, as well as building a professional community.
Northeastern State University – The aim of A Day of Celebration at Northeastern State University: Becoming a Future Oklahoma Educator is twofold: 1) growing the number of high school students who will choose teacher education majors and 2) creating more partnerships with high schools for structured pathways into educator preparation programs (EPPs). The project directors will host an event and provide various presentations, workshops and a keynote speaker for students to attend and consider a career as a future Oklahoma educator.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University – The primary focus of Teach for Oklahoma Outreach is providing partnerships and promoting outreach initiatives to attract students from rural northwest Oklahoma school districts to teaching careers. Activities include school visits that will build a pipeline of potential educators from high school juniors and/or seniors as they meet teacher education faculty members and current teacher candidates.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University – Band Director Induction Program is a grant to retain novice and veteran band directors within the rural Oklahoma Panhandle region by providing workshops, materials and professional development activities. Participants will benefit by having subject-specific mentoring and increasing collegiality for rural music teachers.
Oklahoma State University – The overall goal of OSU Future Teachers Day is increasing enrollment within teacher preparation programs. In particular, this opportunity promotes diverse high school juniors and seniors with teaching interests to visit the OSU-Stillwater campus and teacher education program facilities, as students will also develop an interactive instructional lesson in up to two different traditional education program career pathways.
Oral Roberts University – ORU University-Led Teacher Induction Program for Novice Teachers provides early career teachers with mentoring as they participate in university-led activities designed to sustain and support their decision to become a classroom teacher. Activities include monthly gatherings with instructional coaching, Saturday workshops, and exemplary classroom teacher observations and discussions. The participants will also gain leadership skills and engage in non-evaluative instructional coaching with a professor/mentor.
University of Central Oklahoma – Paraprofessional Residency to Educator Pathway (PREP): Developing Oklahoma’s Teacher Workforce supports the recruitment of current paraprofessionals who have an associate degree completed or near completion to become comprehensively prepared and certified educators in Oklahoma schools. Public school administrators and certified teachers will serve as mentors in the program. In particular, this grant will provide structured pathways and the benefits of clinical experiences.
University of Central Oklahoma – The primary goal of Prospective Teachers Academy is to offer crucial information to Teach Oklahoma and Educators Rising high school students to develop knowledge of college success strategies and to navigate teacher education programs. Faculty will instruct about skills for higher education students, which include navigating college websites, scholarship opportunities and plan(s) of study. The academy is specifically designed to help students learn more about the college admission process with a special focus on considering a career as an educator.
University of Oklahoma – The objective of Expanding Capacity Through Integrated Support is to promote retention of early career and experienced teachers through building positive, professional mentoring relationships focused on the key elements of educative mentoring. Program activities include mentoring activities to support the self-efficacy of early career teachers.
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa – The goals of Teacher Bound: A Recruitment Pathway for Oklahoma Early Childhood Education Bachelor Degree Program include: 1) building connections between the university and partner organizations for community benefits, 2) increasing awareness of OU-Tulsa’s early childhood program and 3) addressing concerns related to perceived obstacles to obtaining an Early Childhood Education bachelor’s degree. Project directors will make school visits to support partnerships, engage in site visits to assist potential partners, and conduct Teacher Bound events.
The University of Tulsa – Fifth Year Academy supports the implementation of professional development training that will enhance novice teachers’ abilities for teaching and managing the classroom in accordance with various standards, including the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and criteria of Local Education Agencies (LEAs).