MDE Awards Southern Miss $196K for Teacher Residency
Thu, 12/04/2025 - 10:17am | By: Karelia Pitts
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) awarded $196,000 to The University of
Southern Mississippi (USM) to cover tuition and expenses for up to 14 students in
the Golden Eagle Teacher Residency Program. This funding was appropriated by the Mississippi
Legislature and will help strengthen and expand the state鈥檚 teacher pipeline.
鈥淥ur graduate teacher residency program provides an incredible opportunity for individuals
who have always wanted to become a teacher to make a meaningful career change with
little to no out of pocket expense,鈥� said Andrea Krell, executive director of the
Mississippi Center for Apprenticeships and Residency in Education (MCARE).
In 2021, MDE鈥檚 Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program provided Southern Miss with over
$2 million to launch an inclusive elementary education MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) degree built around a transformative one-year teacher
residency experience. USM teacher residents spend a full academic year in an elementary
classroom alongside a high-quality mentor teacher while completing their coursework
online. This model allows candidates to immediately put course concepts into practice.
Annually, the graduate cohorts have averaged 20 students and offered a steady supply
of new Mississippi teachers who enter their first full-time jobs with invaluable preparation
and a true understanding of what it takes to be an educator. This additional funding
from MDE will help Southern Miss sustain the success experienced over the last four
years.
鈥淚n the midst of the state鈥檚 teacher shortage, we are exploring a new idea: What if
Southern Miss built a statewide earn-and-learn model that could diversify the teacher
pipeline and stabilize Mississippi鈥檚 rural workforce?鈥� said Dr. Trent Gould, dean
of the Southern Miss College of Education and Human Sciences. 鈥淔or the past six years,
our efforts have intentionally focused on building apprenticeship and residency pathways,
expanding stakeholder partnerships, and finding financially sustainable ways to continue
making an impact. MCARE represents the culmination of our efforts and illustrates
what is possible when preparation, partnership, funding and mission all align.鈥�
Southern Miss is among nine Mississippi Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) awarded
a total of $2,968,855 in grants through MDE鈥檚 MTR program this year. Across the IHE鈥檚,
up to 236 individuals seeking licensure in elementary and special education will receive
funding and support.
鈥淥ur program alumni truly embody what it means to be day-one ready for the classroom.
Watching them thrive in their schools after graduation, and earn honors like New Teacher
of the Year, fills us with pride and drives us to keep improving the program for the
future of education in our state,鈥� said Krell.
Click for more information about teacher apprenticeship and residency pathways at Southern
Miss. To learn more about the Mississippi Teacher Residency program, here.