“The Delta Promise Initiative”

What began as a commitment from State Superintendent Dr. Hank Bounds to provide technical assistance to school districts in the Mississippi Delta has resulted in “The Delta Promise Initiative”.  This project will “bundle” the MSCEI resources from all program areas:  community engagement, early childhood education, and teacher quality and leadership development.

The Delta Promise will build an infrastructure that will support systematic scaling up about what works to change the outcomes for high risk children, families, and communities.  The project involves continuously engaging in meaningful conversations about turning around schools; collaborating with community stakeholders; ensuring that children have access to quality early childhood programs; involving families; providing change efforts that have the potential to positively reform Delta-area schools; and preparing students for college and the workforce in order to build family income and assets and enhance the economic development of the community.

An orientation meeting of superintendents and other school leaders from 23 Delta-area school districts was held in November, 2008, and the six Delta communities that will participate include:  Benoit and West Bolivar in Bolivar County; Claiborne, County; Greenwood in Leflore County; Humphreys County; and West Tallahatchie in Tallahatchie County.

AT&T “Early Educators”

All students can learn.  But some students need multiple instructional strategies, one-on-one instruction, and more time to grasp what is being taught in order to learn. Across the country, teachers, schools, and districts have utilized students’ interest and proficiency in technology to create learning opportunities.  Middle and high school students can be trained as tutors for younger students using iPods and instructional podcasts as the media for delivery. In addition, the principles of service learning will be taught and reinforced as older students give something back to the younger students they are tutoring.

The state of Mississippi does not have an abundant pool of quality teachers waiting in the wings for a classroom. Nor does the state attract teachers from other states to relocate in Mississippi.  The second objective of this proposal is to create interest in the teaching profession from Jr. and Sr. High students. By creating a tutor-tutee relationship, these “Early Educators” will experience the satisfaction of seeing younger students learn from the teacher’s use of podcasts as the springboard for instruction and may also encourage Jr. and Sr. High students to explore teaching as a career.

Third and fourth year education majors must complete field experiences as part of their major course requirements.  Colleges of Teacher Education in the Delta will be offered the opportunity to participate in the “Early Educators” program by incorporating podcasting in field experiences.  By doing so, pre-service teachers will be exposed to MDE curriculum and the opportunity to use engaging technology in their classroom teaching.

AT&T Mississippi has awarded $475,000.00 to the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, to implement the “Early Educators” project.