By: Tanner Shotwell
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The Walton Family Foundation has donated $3.6 million to help grow the Arkansas Teachers Corps.
The Arkansas Teachers Corps. mission is to “…recruit, train, license and support committed Arkansans as empowered teachers facilitating excellent, equitable education every day.” The program is a partnership with the U of A college of education and Health Professions.
This is a 3-year alternative program that allows recent college graduates to acquire extra training to better prepare them for teaching K-12th grade.
The first seven weeks offer intensive training, and then receive ongoing support during their first few years of teaching. The seven week course offers hands-on learning to mold the techniques and skills required to excel as a teacher.
Once an individual passes the seven week course, they become a teacher fellow and get periodic help and training for the rest of the three years.
The Walton Family Foundation has been closely tied to the Arkansas Teacher Corps. for the last 10 years. The Walton Family has donated almost $7.5 million in total dating back to 2013. From 2013-2022, they donated $3.82 million, and their most recent donation for 2022-2025 will almost match that total.
Arkansas Teacher Corps. Executive Director, Brandon Lucius, talked about the importance of providing financial support and training for college graduates needing extra training before having their classroom.
Funding:
2013-2016: $590,216
2016-2018: $930,921
2018-2020: $1,010, 123
2020-2022: $1,292,500
2022-2025: $3,672,500
Lucius hopes that their program will support more potential teachers and lure students to become teachers.
“Arkansas has struggled with teacher shortages in particular content areas and geographic regions of the state for years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically exacerbated systemic inequities that make it even harder for rural and low-income school districts to recruit and retain high-quality educators,” said Lucius.
The grant money will be used in four different ways. Grants will be provided for enrolled individuals, travel expenses, coaching, and outside evaluations.
The new money from Walton Family Foundation will allow the Arkansas Teacher Corps. to grow from teaching 57 to 105 teacher fellows. This 84% increase will help to combat the teacher shortage across Arkansas.
To help put it into perspective, back in 2013, ATC started with 21 teacher fellows across nine school districts. Now, they’re supporting 60 teacher fellows across 16 school districts with an ability to now grow to 105 in the near future.
The Walton Family Foundation has allowed the Arkansas Teacher Corps. to grow through their donations and the increasing amounts continue to allow ATC to flourish.