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UTPB receives new grant for educators The University of Texas of the Permian Basin will awarding new grant money for bilingual education teacher training over the next five years to students wanting to become teachers in hard-to-fill areas. The university has been selected to receive a federal grant that will pay $299,680 each year for a period of five years for pre-service teachers specializing in bilingual/ESL middle school math and science education. Scholarships will also be awarded for graduate students who are planning on pursuing a master's in bilingual/ESL education.
“We applied for this grant after we surveyed area school districts,” explained Susan Lara, UTPB vice president. The grant was authored by Lara and lecturer Yolanda Salgado. “We found this training was a critical need in West Texas classrooms for our middle schools.” The shortage for qualified bilingual and ESL math and science teachers is a national one, but Lara said Texas needs more middle school teachers -- grades four to eight -- in all subject areas as well. The grant money will be used to fund books, tuition and special training opportunities and professional development. “These students will be learning best practices, participating in field work, mentoring activities and seminars. We will be educating some of the very best teachers for our region,” Lara said. Lara said she was especially pleased to get the news this week. “This is just in time for fall registration,” Lara said. For more information, a special informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library Lecture Hall Room 002. All who are interested are invited to attend. Please phone Yolanda Salgado at 552-2142 or Susan Lara at 552-2600 for more information. |
