Tulane SoPA and partners awarded $10M SEED grant for teacher preparation programs

The U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grant Program has awarded over $10 million in federal funding to expand and enhance teacher recruitment efforts in New Orleans.

The Tulane University School of Professional Advancement (Tulane SoPA) will operate as lead recipient and partner with New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO), Xavier University of Louisiana’s Norman C. Francis Teacher Residency, Reach University and The New Teacher Project’s (TNTP) teachNOLA.  The “NOLA SEED” program aims to recruit and develop 552 highly effective, culturally competent, certified educators to be placed in New Orleans public schools.

Tulane SoPA will be the lead fiscal agent for the grant and receive $2.2 million over three years for teacher education at Tulane. The grant will help support the anticipated launch of a Master of Teaching (MAT) degree in Fall 2023*, including funds to cover tuition for students who commit to teaching in Orleans Parish. The grant also funds mentor stipends, along with an induction program that provides extensive support, mentoring, and stipends to new teachers who graduate from undergraduate or graduate teacher preparation programs at Tulane SoPA.

“The PreK-12 Education Program at Tulane SoPA offers an inclusive and high-quality course of study for aspiring and current teachers that is also accessible, affordable and flexible,” said Kelly McClure, program director. “Our faculty and mentor teachers are all practitioners who have taught and led schools both in Orleans Parish and beyond, bringing a variety of experiences and expertise to the curriculum.”

PreK-12 teacher education at Tulane SoPA has expanded to allow aspiring teachers multiple pathways to earn a certification in Early Childhood or Secondary Education, alongside endorsements in Special Education and Teaching English Learners. The secondary coordinate major for Tulane SoPA undergraduates and the MAT prepares students to become teachers no matter where they are in their educational journeys.

“The PreK-12 Education Program at Tulane SoPA offers an inclusive and high-quality course of study for aspiring and current teachers that is also accessible, affordable and flexible.”

Kelly McClure, program director

“Tulane has a strong history of preparing teachers for the classroom,” said Suri Duitch, Dean of the Tulane School of Professional Advancement. “This grant provides a much-needed boost in support for aspiring teachers as well as experienced teachers looking to advance in their career.”

For more information about Tulane SoPA’s PreK-12 Education Program, please email cdavis57@tulane.edu. For more information about the full grant, click here. 

*Pending SACS approval