NEA, Tom Joyner Foundation Team Up for Minority Scholarship Program
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NEA President Reg Weaver will promote great schools
in a series of radio advertisements during the Tom Joyner Show.
The ads will air for six weeks between January and June 2005. January (459 KB .mp3 file) February (1.15 MB .mp3 file) March (470 KB .mp3 file)
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The National Education Association and the Tom Joyner Foundation have
partnered to form a scholarship program that will encourage minority teachers
to complete their certification. The program will distribute more than
$700,000, and is designed to increase the number of fully certified minority
teachers.
Tom Joyner is a nationally syndicated radio host whose show reaches
more than 8 million people in 115 markets, including Milwaukee.
"Nearly 40% of America's students are minorities, but just 11%
of our teachers are," NEA President Reg Weaver said. "Closing
that gap must be a part of any meaningful effort to close the gaps in
student achievement between whites and minorities."
Weaver said fewer than 50% of African Americans pass their teacher
entrance exams. In an effort to improve that statistic, the program
will allow qualified school of education students and unlicensed teachers
working in public schools with a large population of minority students
to attend classes at one of seven colleges or universities. Those institutions
include:
- Clark Atlanta University - Atlanta, Georgia.
- Bowie State University - Bowie, Maryland.
- Jackson State University - Jackson, Mississippi.
- Johnson C. Smith University - Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Cheyney State University - Cheyney, Pennsylvania.
- Tennessee State University - Nashville, Tennessee.
- Harris Stowe State College - St. Louis, Missouri.
To apply for a scholarship, visit http://blackamericaweb.com.
All applicants must commit to teach a minimum of three years in an affected
public school as a condition of admission to the program.
Posted January 18, 2005