State Snapshot

BRUSHING UP: Students in fine art professor Robert Long’s pottery class work on unique creations in the Howell Hall ceramics studio. Once home to agricultural and biological engineering, the building now houses Mississippi State’s sculpture program, providing 4,000 square feet of hands-on workspace for budding artists. Photo by Mary Georgia Hamilton

Balancing a job, family and other obligations matter what,” Shelton said of her husband. “Your keeps life busy for many adults, so pursuing circumstances can change at a moment’s notice, but no a college degree may not seem possible. one can take away your degree once you have it. You’re Mississippi State understands this, and that’s why never too old to go back to school.” the university offers various support, from generous Nontraditional students at Mississippi State can get scholarships to helpful staff to flexible degree the academic advising and general support from the programs, that help nontraditional students make the state’s Complete 2 Compete program. It helps adults most of their time while earning a diploma. age 21 and older who have not completed coursework

Typically defined as someone older than 23 who in at least 24 consecutive months to complete a did not enroll in college immediately or soon after post-secondary degree. Mississippi State also has a high school graduation, nontraditional students often new Bachelor of Applied Science program that allows value flexibility, practicality and programs that allow students to apply technical education credits toward a them to not only capitalize on their life bachelor’s degree. experiences, but gain new experiences that Shelton stresses that will lead to a career. “Your circumstances adults should remember As the wife of a nontraditional student and manager of admissions and can change at a that no matter the obstacles, a college degree is a enrollment management for MSU’s moment’s notice, worthwhile pursuit. Office of the Graduate School, Lindsey “You may encounter a Shelton understands these needs, as but no one can take lot of roadblocks in your life, well as the important role family and away your degree but don’t let that stop you academic support play in a college from pursuing your goals. It experience. The MSU alumna said once you have it. takes great determination, but she draws from both perspectives to guide students on their path to You’re never too old you can do it,” she said. “Two of our current students Charlyn a degree. to go back to school.” King and Richard Hinshaw are

“I love seeing nontraditional great examples of how to make it students go back to school; it’s ~ Lindsey Shelton happen.” an admirable thing to do. They King, who holds an associate’s in add so much to the dynamic of drafting and design from Jones Junior our campus and our classrooms because they’ve been College, said she first thought about pursuing another out in the workforce and bring such great experience degree while serving in the Mississippi National to the table,” said Shelton, who earned a bachelor’s in Guard. Then “life happened.” She met her husband interdisciplinary studies in 2002. “These students set a Tommy, an Army engineer officer and MSU business good example for younger generations about the value graduate, in 1993 and left the guard after the two of setting goals and working hard to earn the things you started a family. want no matter your age.” Their son Ryan, a 2017 anthropology graduate, is

Shelton, who also earned a master’s in 2014, said now pursuing an MSU master’s in English. Daughter supporting those returning to school hits close to home. Amelia is entering her fifth year in MSU’s School of Her husband Bo Shelton, a lieutenant with the MSU Architecture. With three Bulldogs in the family, King Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, said she didn’t want to miss out on the fun. is working toward a bachelor’s in anthropology at MSU. “Once our kids were at State, everyone in the After high school, Bo went straight into the Marines family was a Bulldog except me. I couldn’t let that and then into public service as a fireman, medic and happen,” she said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘If I go ultimately law enforcement officer. Fifteen years later, back to school, then all four of us can be Bulldogs.’ he decided it was time to return to school for a degree. I’ve always loved making things and for my associate’s He finished an associate’s in May and, with Lindsey’s degree, I had to do a year of architectural drawing that support, decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree. I really enjoyed. I remember Ryan asking me if I ever

“It’s so exciting to see him working diligently to thought about going back to school and when Amelia earn that diploma because he will always have it no decided she wanted to investigate the architecture

Bo and Lindsey Shelton

program at State for herself, that really made me start thinking about it again.” Flash forward three years and King says she couldn’t be happier to be a Bulldog. She said everyone she’s interacted with in the College of Architecture, Art and Design— and MSU as a whole—has been friendly and accommodating, so her transition from prospective to full-time student went smoothly. She received a donor-supported

MSU Compass Scholarship and is proud to have been inducted into MSU’s chapter of Tau

Sigma Delta architectural honor society. “As an adult student, I think most of my initial obstacles or concerns were self-imposed. State has been great about setting me up for success,” she said. “The architecture staff spent a lot of time explaining the application process, so I felt like I had the information and support I needed to accomplish this goal.”

King said she’s also grateful to the staff of

Mississippi State’s G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans.

“In some of my classes, I have needed to print something or needed a workspace outside of the studio, and the veterans center in Nusz Hall has been a nice resource,” she said. “It’s been a huge bonus to be able to connect with people who have the same experiences in terms of serving in the military.”

The classroom experience has been just as enjoyable, King said.

“One of my biggest concerns was that my classmates would have this preconceived idea of ‘She’s Amelia’s mom; she’s so old,’” King said with a laugh. “Amelia has given me a lot of support and been a great source of information, particularly with technology since it’s changed a lot since the last time I was in school. Other students and professors have really been open to making me a part of this campus. I’m glad I’ve had this opportunity to be in an environment with other creative people.”

If things go as planned, the King family will have much to celebrate next spring when Charlyn, Ryan and Amelia are slated to graduate. King said she’s excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopes to continue her education through pursuit of an architect’s license and additional training opportunities. She encourages prospective nontraditional students to simply “go for it.”

“Even if you don’t have another career on the horizon, it’s still fun to continue learning and to be around people who are interested in the same thing you are,” she said. “You might learn something new about yourself.

“I struggled my first time in college,” she continued. “When we’re in our 20s, we think we have to pick the right major, get the right job and make all of the right choices or the world will end, but it’s so important to just keep experiencing new things and realize that life doesn’t end just because you’re 50 and your kids go off and have their own lives now. Everything in the world is changing, including technology, and being able to learn about those changes at Mississippi State has been an eye-opening experience. I’ve had a lot of fun.” In addition to providing the academic and financial support that King relishes, Mississippi State is helping working adults expand their education through convenient, affordable online degree programs. The university currently offers more than 50 accredited online programs, making bachelor’s, master’s, doctorates and professional certificates available to anyone with internet access, including Gulfport resident and distance education student Richard Hinshaw.

Hinshaw, who is in his late 60s, said the decision to pursue a master’s in instructional technology stemmed from his desire to be a lifelong learner.

“Some people thought I was crazy for wanting to do school stuff at my age,” he said. “Someone asked me, ‘What are you going to do when you grow up?’ I said, ‘Hopefully, I’ll never grow up.’ I’m not going to sit and twiddle my thumbs. I like learning and technology, so I decided to go back to school. If you stop thinking and learning, you’re crazy.”

In 1972, Hinshaw earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Florida. His post-graduation career in newspaper and radio took him all over the country before he officially put roots down in Mississippi. In addition to pursuing a master’s degree online, he said he enjoys conducting media research and helping clients enhance customer engagement through direct mail.

“I have been very fortunate to have worked with and for a lot of good people for long periods

Charlyn King

Richard Hinshaw

“Someone asked me, of time, and I think I’ve learned a little ‘What are you going bit from every place I’ve been,” he said. “That’s the attitude I’ve always had with to do when you grow life. No matter what, you must learn from each experience, so you can work smarter up?’ I said, ‘Hopefully, and make things better.’” I’ll never grow up.’ Now happily residing on the Gulf Coast with his wife Teresa, daughter Abby and beagle I’m not going to sit Lazlo, Hinshaw said Mississippi State and its and twiddle my “good people” have given him the knowledge and support he needs to excel. thumbs.” “When I started looking into what’s possible for me in terms of another degree, I actually ~ Richard Hinshaw reached out to three different schools to get more information on what was available. Mississippi State was the only one that responded,” he recalled. “I didn’t know where to start out, but I ended up speaking with Angie Campbell at the graduate school who was very helpful and offered suggestions about programs that sounded pretty neat.”

Hinshaw said he’s also grateful for proactive professors, including his adviser Chien Yu in the College of Education’s Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development.

“Dr. Yu is great. She always responds to emails and has been helpful to me, especially with things I hadn’t done for the first time,” he said. “I had a lot of problems when working on a lesson plan, and she spent a lot of time helping me through it. Everybody else I’ve worked with here has had a fantastic attitude, too. They want to see you do you well, which is neat.”

Though not in any rush to finish, Hinshaw said he is happy to be about halfway through his degree program. He is taking two online courses this fall and planning for additional ones in the spring and summer.

“You can be a school known for this or that, but having good people has a lot to do with everything, and the people at State are incredible,” he said. “The encouragement and support they provide is very good and appreciated.” n

Going virtual has become a must for many students and professionals during the pandemic. Mississippi State’s Center for Distance Education offers simple tips for setting up at-home study or workspaces. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

• COMFORTABLE - Select a desk chair that supports the lower back. - Adjust computer monitors to eye level to avoid neck strain. - Ensure arms, wrists and shoulders are supported and relaxed while using a keyboard or mouse. • CONNECTED - Keep designated workspaces organized, with all required books, materials and software in easy reach. - Make sure internet access is available. Signal boosters can help extend the range of home Wi-Fi. MSU Extension offices BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE or local libraries can help those without internet connection at home. Feel the pride of becoming a Bulldog. Earn a college • CAMERA READY degree. Compete for jobs of the future.- Before joining a video conference check lighting, camera angles and sound so video and audio transmit clearly. Whether attending Mississippi State’s Starkville, Meridian - Make sure the surroundings are free of personal items you or online campuses, Mississippians can accomplish these goals might not want to broadcast to classmates or peers. This and more through the university’s new Bachelor of Applied includes things that might be visible on a shared computer screen. Science program. - Remember that even though you’re at home, others “To compete globally, nationally and here in Mississippi will be able to see you if you’re using video-conferencing for the next generation of high-quality jobs, Mississippi needs technology. Dress accordingly. an educated workforce with a myriad of technical skills that

• Turn off cell phones or disable notifications to avoid losing college degree,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum, upon • focus on the task at hand. Avoid multi-tasking on the computer. Close any tabs announcing the program in 2019. “The Bachelor of Applied unrelated to the current assignment or project. Science program is an enterprise in which Mississippi State can • Block apps or websites that tend to compete for your be a change agent for Mississippians seeking to be a part of that • attention. Use headphones when listening to lectures or participating in online meetings or video conferences. emerging workforce.” The BAS program is intended to serve the needs of adults who 3 KEEP CALM • Take frequent, short breaks away from the computer. have completed a technical associate’s degree and need additional education to achieve their career goals. Students can transfer up Stand up, walk around and clear your head. to 60 credit hours and earn additional credits through online • Give yourself grace and do the best you can with the or in-person courses, providing the flexibility that has become a • tools and technology you have. Remember, Mississippi State is here to help! hallmark of MSU’s nationally ranked online offerings. “By offering the new Bachelor of Applied Science program

Christopher Hudson, a research engineer, drives a Polaris MRZR through the MSU Proving Ground. The vehicle is collecting data that will allow it to navigate off-road environments autonomously. utonomous vehicles have made

Asignificant advancements over the last generation, but at least one major limitation remains for most—the ability to reliably travel off-road, which encompasses the majority of Earth’s terrain.

Using a combination of advanced computer simulation capabilities and a newly acquired 50-acre off-road test track, researchers at Mississippi State’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems are at the forefront of creating and testing the systems that will open a new world of possibility for autonomous vehicles. The advancements developed at MSU could have applications for the military, as well as industries such as agriculture, energy, construction and forestry.

Clay Walden, executive director of the center, said Mississippi State’s decades of automotive research experience, unrivaled high-performance computing capability, and the university’s rural surroundings combine to make an ideal setting for autonomous vehicle development and testing.

“I don’t think there’s anywhere else with our advanced computing capabilities, which we can use to model and simulate the sensors these systems run on, combined with the ability to quickly validate what’s happening,” Walden said. “It’s a great combination of virtual and physical testing in an off-road environment, and I think it gives our partners in the Department of Defense something unique.”

This fall, CAVS put the finishing touches on the MSU Proving Ground, 50 acres of diverse terrain adjacent to the research center. The property contains swampy areas, flats, steep inclines and tall grass, all of which can be used to test vehicles in a variety of environments.

The Proving Ground will increase the center’s ability to carry out U.S. Army ground vehicle research. Last fall, CAVS received $3.08 million from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, headquartered in Vicksburg, to conduct research in areas such as human performance in manned and autonomous systems, soilterrain interaction, remote sensing capabilities, and more. The work will help the Army assess manned and unmanned tactical vehicles.

As part of the research, CAVS has acquired two new vehicles, with a third on the way. The first to arrive was a Polaris MRZR, a lightweight versatile vehicle that can carry up to four people and has uses in a wide range of tactical environments. The second was a Warthog amphibious, unmanned ground vehicle, which can be used to carry supplies in support of a mission. The third vehicle, an amphibious tracked vehicle operated by a joystick, is scheduled to arrive in late 2020 or early 2021.

Daniel Carruth, CAVS associate director for advanced vehicle systems, said the different vehicles will help the researchers train algorithms and sensors to adapt to different environments and uses.

“The military is looking at vehicle support in a lot of different ways,” Carruth said. “You could have scenarios where you drive for a distance, then get out and walk the last mile to the combat zone and you can call the vehicle to pick you up in a hurry. They envision vehicles that can do reconnaissance and overwatch, and then extraction. So, essentially, vehicles that can protect themselves and then come get you when you needed.”

Another benefit for the armed forces is that self-driving vehicles free up personnel for other aspects of the mission. It could also reduce the number of people needed to handle transportation and supply chain logistics, which often are a dangerous part of a mission.

“If you have three people in a vehicle and you can take out the driving aspect, they can focus on things like security, management, communications with other vehicles or the forward operating base,” Carruth said. “If you can reduce persons in a vehicle, it reduces potential casualties.”

In addition to the physical 50-acre site, CAVS is creating a “digital twin” of the Proving Ground for simulations. This will allow researchers to use the physical data collected at the test track to train the systems and sensors that the autonomous vehicles use to navigate the terrain.

This process involves collecting information about the property’s soil, topography, trees, plants and more so the digital twin replicates the real thing as closely as possible. The researchers noted that the quality of the data going into any algorithm or simulation plays a significant role in determining the capabilities of the artificial intelligence systems that will use those algorithms to make decisions. The team developed the MSU Autonomous Vehicle Simulator, or MAVS, to conduct in-house testing of navigation software in virtual environments.

To make decisions with 95% confidence, an autonomous driving system needs billions of miles worth of training. That is where the capabilities of MSU’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory come in.

While CAVS researchers are preparing vehicles to drive on the Proving Ground, they can also use the machine learning capabilities of one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to help prepare the vehicles to drive in unknown environments. By running thousands of simultaneous drive simulations, the research team can gain valuable insights into how the autonomous systems respond to different changes in the environment.

“In a matter of months, you could have one of our vehicles driving most of the trails on the Proving Ground,” Carruth said. “But if I took that vehicle to another property, it’s not going to be able to drive at all. The modeling and simulation tools will let us train that vehicle to drive in the desert or in the mountains. In the simulation, we can put it in any imaginable environment and see how the vehicle performs there.

“On the high-performance computing system, we can simulate 100,000 rides in an environment, which could tell us, for example, what level of rainfall makes a system fail,” he continued. “It lets us build environments and run lots of different trials with different variables to see how those variables affect the vehicles.”

Carruth is leading efforts with NATO, through its Science and Technology Organization working groups, to examine and compare current autonomous modeling and simulation tools. He is leading a NATO competition that will benchmark currently available simulation tools and test them in physical environments, some of which could potentially be done on the Proving Ground. The NATO research group is working through 2023 to determine standards for autonomous modeling and simulation tools.

CAVS regularly involves undergraduate and graduate students in the wide-ranging research at the center. Computer science graduate students Payton Ray and Marc Moore are among the first to get to carry out research on the Proving Ground and the new vehicles being used for the project.

Ray, from Olive Branch, studied computer science and linguistics as an undergraduate at MSU. In graduate school, she is focusing on artificial intelligence and how humans interact with computers and robots. At CAVS, she is outfitting the Warthog robot with sensors that collect data from the Proving Ground. That data then informs how the vehicles react in the simulation software.

“My background is mainly in software, but for this you have to be a mini expert in all of it,” Ray said. “You have hardware with the sensors, then you have to get out there and actually collect the data. There are a lot of problems to solve, but it’s a lot more fun than sitting in a cubicle.”

Moore, who came to Mississippi from San Diego before enrolling at MSU as an undergraduate, is doing similar work for the MRZR. He said it is exciting to work in off-road autonomy, where every problem is still “in its infancy.” In addition to getting to work alongside world-class researchers, Moore said he enjoys the opportunity to work with top-of-the-line equipment.

“Lidar systems are not cheap at all, but right now they are the cornerstone of autonomous driving,” Moore said. “We have access to lidar systems. We can test new algorithms. We can gather data. That’s a practical level of experience that very few research institutions provide. The skills we’re learning will be relevant for a long time.”

Walden said he can envision collaborations with MSU faculty in agriculture and forestry that utilize the Proving Ground. Because MSU is a national leader in unmanned aerial systems research, CAVS will also be well-positioned to explore unmanned ground and air vehicle interactions in an off-road environment.

“With agriculture, forestry and other fields, there are opportunities for ground vehicle coordination with unmanned aerial vehicles,” Walden said. “That gives you perspectives from the ground and from the air.”

The work at CAVS also opens up the opportunity for research into autonomous cars that handle both on- and off-road environments. Additionally, the research could overlap in areas that are beneficial to on-road autonomy.

“The Army is not going to want an autonomous vehicle that is either on-road or off-road,” Carruth said. “At some point, you need a vehicle that is capable of doing both. It would have to recognize the context it is operating in. We’re potentially interested in that transition from on-road to off-road operations and how you build a system that can recognize the context change and operate equally well in both environments.” n

TOP: CAVS has acquired three vehicles to facilitate off-road autonomy research with a focus on military applications. These vehicles can be used to carry personnel, supplies or surveil an environment. MIDDLE LEFT: Mechanical engineering senior Christian Johannemann, a Florida native, and CAVS research engineer Tyler Hannis adjust hardware used by the autonomous vehicles to collect data. MIDDLE RIGHT: Marc Moore, left, and Payton Ray, both computer science graduate students, prepare a Warthog ground vehicle drone with sophisticated hardware and software to gain insights into how the vehicle performs in off-road environments. BOTTOM: The Warthog is an amphibious ground vehicle that can navigate the Proving Ground’s diverse terrain, which includes natural vegetation growth, hills, swampy areas, and trails.

Any teacher’s first year—in a new classroom, a new school or a new district— can cause butterflies. Those little ripples of anxiety might even feel insurmountable for a fresh college graduate making the transition from classroom learner to classroom leader. Still, Katie Hogan said she is confident.

“Although I think I will be more nervous than the students, it will be a dream come true,” Hogan said. “I’ve always wanted to be an educator, and I will have completed four years of hard work in order to lead and teach students so the first day of class will be a significant milestone in my career.”

A senior majoring in secondary education, Hogan said she would like to teach 8th or 9th grade and believes she will be ready to step into that role and do it well thanks to her preparation at Mississippi State University.

“MSU, I feel, has well equipped me to be an educator by hiring some of the best professors to teach the education students,” the Olive Branch

~ Donna Shea

native explained. “They keep it real and are great at letting their students know that being an educator is hard work but it’s worth it.”

Coming from a family of educators, Hogan knows that she’s stepping into an important role, not just that of a teacher but also a mentor and a role model. She said she also understands that teaching is a calling.

“I decided to become a teacher because I grew up seeing firsthand the effects teachers can have on students years and years down the road,” Hogan said. “Teaching also combines my love of leadership, community, relationships and students.”

Mississippi schools, in particular, have struggled to find people to “answer the call,” causing a statewide teacher shortage in some areas for the past three decades. Before the 2020-21 academic year started, the Mississippi Department of Education reported critical teaching shortages in 89 of the 151 school districts in the state. More Preparation

Richard Blackbourn, dean of the College of Education, said Mississippi State is helping address this issue by ensuring its graduates know what to expect their first day as teachers, including how to balance the needs of every student in the room.

“We’ve found that so many first-year teachers struggle with student discipline and differentiated instruction,” Blackbourn explained. “We strive to ensure that our graduates walk into their classrooms that first day as teachers fully prepared for whatever the year might throw at them.”

Blackbourn added that feedback from those who employ MSU teacher interns and graduates helps hone the curriculum of the program. It was from that feedback that Donna Shea, director of clinical and field-based instruction, realized teacher candidates would greatly benefit from additional guidance in classroom management, establishing relationships with students and parents, and

communicating effectively with parents.

Shea said she knows from her own career as an educator how much relationships matter, and for the past 18 semesters as she’s guided future teachers through their final months at her alma mater, it’s a lesson she’s tried to instill in them.

“Teachers have the awesome opportunity to be on the front lines every day in being that light, in loving every student, and in inspiring positive change one child at a time,” Shea said.

To help teacher candidates grow in this area of establishing proper classroom relationships, the College of Education reached out to classroom management guru Amie Dean to host classroom management seminars for senior education majors.

“We’ve had such great feedback from students about our seminars,” Shea explained. “Teacher candidates have said that information from the seminars inspired them to go out into the world and make a difference in the lives of their students.”

The college has also invited local school

administrators and Mississippi Department of Education staff to discuss with teacher candidates a variety of topics including principals’ expectations, a teacher’s role in state accreditation and educational interventions.

More Opportunities

For Hogan, who has attended the college’s seminars, all of her preparation has started to pay off. She’s already planning what her future classroom will look like and how it will function in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Not only have MSU faculty helped her every step of the way but during her time at the university, she also has benefited from being part of the

Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program—a

~ Jeff Leffler

scholarship that Hogan said changed her life.

The METP scholarship is a collaborative endeavor that aims to attract top-performing students to teacher education programs in Mississippi. The scholarship provides full tuition, including room, board and books, as well as professional incentives, a $1,000 technology stipend and a fully funded study-abroad or similar experience. All students who enter the program make a five-year commitment to teach in Mississippi after graduation.

“The METP scholarship has attracted students to Mississippi State University from across the United States,” said Teresa Jayroe, associate dean of the College of Education. “We just admitted a new class of 30 students for fall 2020 and have approximately 70 METP teachers in classrooms across the state. We are excited about the impact these high-achieving young teachers are already making in classrooms throughout Mississippi.”

Rebecca Robichaux-Davis, a professor who serves as adviser for elementary education METP students concentrating in mathematics, added, “When I speak to METP students about their career goals, the vast majority of them want to teach middle school mathematics and consequently, these students are directly bridging the gap in Mississippi’s teacher shortage in a critical needs area.”

Funded by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation in Jackson for approximately $100,000 over four years, METP is designed to create a unique “honors college-style” learning experience for high-achieving education majors. In addition to the METP scholarship, the MSU College of Education offers another 24 scholarships totaling approximately $98,000 specifically for future teachers.

Hogan said METP and MSU have pushed her college experience and career preparation the “extra mile.”

“The program has allowed me to build connections and friendships with potential future colleagues,” Hogan said. “It has also placed me in

a community with current teachers that have been through the program, so I get to hear their stories and learn from their experiences.”

More Paths to a Degree

While Hogan benefits from on-campus instruction from MSU faculty, the College of Education also ensures its scholarships, mentorship and educational opportunities are available to nontraditional learners. The Master of Arts in teaching and Master of Arts in teaching special education are online programs geared toward those who choose teaching as a second career.

In addition, two programs administered through MSU-Meridian open degree possibilities for teacher assistants—the new Mississippi Teacher Residency program and Professional Advancement Network for Teacher Assistants initiative.

A first of its kind in the United States, the residency program is designed to help classroom assistant teachers complete a bachelor’s degree. The program will graduate approximately 100 new elementary teachers for four underserved central Mississippi school districts over the course of the four-year grant.

“The Mississippi Teacher Residency program provides students with the best of both worlds,” explained Brandi Sumrall, co-director of the

program. “Students complete the program with a degree in elementary education and an endorsement in special education. As a special educator and as a teacher educator, I know the importance of having qualified teachers working with students with exceptional abilities.”

She went on to say the Mississippi Teacher Residency program allows her to work with elementary education majors to provide a knowledge base for working with students with disabilities and teaching students who are at-risk academically and behaviorally.

“The combination of both the elementary education degree and the special education endorsement makes graduates of the program highly marketable to school districts because of their certifications and their diverse abilities as teachers,” Sumrall said.

The program pairs with the Professional Advancement Network for Teacher Assistants initiative, which aims to help teacher assistants in the Meridian Public and Lauderdale County school districts complete the requirements to become licensed teachers. PANTA’s blended delivery format allows students to participate in either face-to-face or remote instruction, making it ideal for working adults.

“After watching school districts across the state struggle to place certified teachers in their classrooms, a group of Meridian professors realized that there was a pool of people who already had years of experience in the classroom and a likelihood of remaining in those communities that they served in as assistant teachers,” explained Jeff Leffler, MTR and PANTA program codirector. “This led to us creating the PANTA program that allowed us to make MSU-Meridian’s teacher education program more accessible to teacher assistants.”

As they began to see individuals successfully complete the program, Leffler and Sumrall became even more passionate about expanding that initiative to meet the needs across the state. Like most states, Mississippi has experienced a shortage of certified teachers that has become more acute in recent years. Added to that is a lack of diversity in certified teachers with over 75% of teachers nationally being white women.

“We wanted to be a part of a solution that created additional pathways to teacher certification while also preparing a more diverse population that more closely matches the student populations they will be teaching,” Leffler said.

Kim Hall, head of the Division of Education at MSU-Meridian, said that being able to offer initiatives like the Mississippi Teacher Residency and PANTA programs has allowed faculty to truly do what they love. She said she knows that’s making an impact in the community and the state.

Amy Prisock knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a teacher. After all, she used to be one. But now, instead of teaching the next generation, the College of Education’s Amy Prisockrecruitment coordinator is making sure the next generation of teachers gets the education it deserves.

Prisock routinely visits high schools and community colleges to show students just how rewarding a teaching career can be. Each year, one of her favorite places on the recruitment trail is the Congressman Bennie G. Thompson College and Career Fair in Greenville.

“I have a special place in my heart for the Delta,” Prisock said. “I can always find someone interested in talking about Mississippi State and the College of Education. Everyone has a favorite teacher who impacted their life.”

Scholarships are a huge part of Prisock’s recruitment. While she believes everyone who wants to go to college should, she knows not everyone who wants to go to college can afford it. She makes sure to always tell potential students about the scholarship opportunities at Mississippi State University, especially its 94 teacher education scholarships.

With so many schools in the area restricting campus visitors because of the pandemic, Prisock and her fellow recruiters have had to get creative in how they meet students. Taking these changes in stride, she has turned to social media, Webex and mailed out information packets to recruit future teachers. She also makes schools aware that she is ready to talk about the College of Education and its programs to their students, whether one-on-one or a virtual session for their whole class.

“Effective teachers will impact the lives of the students they teach every day. A student’s passion for teaching children is evident whether meeting virtually or face-to-face,” Prisock said. “That’s what I look for when recruiting, and those are the students I want to join our Bulldog family.”

“Our faculty are committed to helping teacher assistants and long-term substitutes reach their goal of having an even greater impact on PK-12 students by teaching full-time in their own classrooms,” Hall said. “We know these future teachers have a heart for children and for making a difference in the lives of their students, and we are thrilled to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”

More Open Doors

One side effect of the global pandemic has been a more widespread effort to get more teachers in the field. The MDE temporarily waived some requirements for students applying to enter MSU’s teacher education and administration preparation programs. It is also waiving some licensure exams for certification through Dec. 31, 2021. “The waiving of the admission requirements by the Mississippi Department of Education has dramatically increased our applicant pool,” Blackbourn explained. “This fact is significant given the extreme shortage of teachers occurring in Mississippi. We are confident that those who complete our programs will have a significant and positive impact on education in the state.”

While these efforts can help get teachers into classrooms, keeping them there past the first year presents its own challenges—something MSU is helping overcome with its Teacher Leadership program. Designed to develop strong leadership qualities in experienced teachers, the Teacher Leadership program prepares participants for a variety of professional positions such as instructional coach, lead teacher, coordinator or director roles.

The concept of teacher leadership has been around for decades and has received increased national attention as a potential lever for not only improved instruction but also recruitment and retention of effective teachers. Teacher leadership takes on many different forms at different levels within a school system.

An assistant clinical professor for the Department of Educational Leadership, Leigh Ann McMullan explained that as a principal, she always tried to promote leadership opportunities for her teachers, but she found these opportunities were somewhat limited and often led teachers to positions outside the classroom. Now, in her new role as coordinator for MSU’s Teacher Leadership program, she has the opportunity to help teachers gain leadership opportunities without having to make that choice.

“When I came to MSU, one of my goals was to create additional graduate opportunities that provided incentives for our effective teachers to remain in the classroom,” McMullan said. “Our Teacher Leadership program empowers future teacher leaders to develop strong leadership skills

while maintaining direct contact with students.”

She continued, “Ultimately, our goal is for highly effective educators to take on roles at the classroom, school, district, state or national levels in order to advance the profession, improve educator effectiveness and increase access to great teaching and learning for all students.”

Those opportunities piqued the interest of Ramona Underwood when she was looking at graduate programs. The veteran teacher and 2020 master’s graduate of the Teacher Leadership program said she knew she wanted to be a voice for teachers to administration while continuing her work in the classroom.

“A teacher leader is an intermediary between teachers and administration,” Underwood explained. “They promote mentorship among teachers and encourage growth in areas that ultimately increase student learning.”

The North Pike High School science teacher, who earned a bachelor’s from MSU in 1997, originally thought she was called to be in the medical field, but after seven years, she walked out of the lab and into the classroom and never looked back.

“Teaching is honestly my mission field. From

the moment I stepped into the classroom, I quickly found myself feeling that I know why I’m here,” Underwood said. “I feel more fulfilled than I ever did in my previous position. I know my students learn so much in my classroom from a teacher who loves them unconditionally and without judgment.”

After a professor suggested the Teacher Leadership program at MSU and put her in touch with the program coordinator, Underwood knew she’d found the right path.

“It checked all my boxes of wanting to learn leadership skills without going the administration route and it also exposes you to what is expected as you go through the national board process,” she said.

Eric Moyen, head of the Department of Educational Leadership, explained that courses for the teacher leadership concentration have been designed using National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ ideals, so that Teacher Leader candidates are better prepared for national board certification.

“Board certification improves teacher retention, teaching effectiveness and teacher leadership while providing teachers with substantial financial incentives to remain in the classroom,” Moyen said. “We work closely with our World Class Teaching program to provide support for teacher leader candidates who are also seeking national board certification. It is a win-win for teachers looking to improve their pedagogy and schools looking to cultivate teaching excellence.”

Mississippi has a strong national board certification history that dates back to the late 1990s, thanks to MSU’s World Class Teaching program that aims to encourage and assist teachers who are interested in pursuing the credential. Michelle Stubbs, who directs the program, said MSU is committed to assisting national board candidates every step of the way and providing experienced mentors who offer direction and feedback.

“We believe that by establishing community among candidates, they tackle each part of the national board’s process with confidence and success,” Stubbs said, adding that national board certification, with its leadership opportunities and stipend rewards, plays a large part in teacher retention, especially in Mississippi.

Speaking from her own national board certification experience, Stubbs said that not only did her teaching practice improve but she also was able to connect with teachers from all over the United States.

“I encourage all Mississippi teachers to pursue national board certification,” Stubbs said. “In fact, research shows that students with a national board-certified teacher are more likely to achieve a proficient score.”

The Mississippi Department of Education supports teachers in the national board certification process by refunding the costs of certification once the teacher submits. It also provides a $6,000 stipend for five years to those who achieve certification.

“We are fortunate to have leaders that support national board certification,” Stubbs said. “There are not many states that provide the financial support that Mississippi provides.”

Currently, approximately 90% of national board candidates from MSU’s World Class Teaching Program have earned the certification. According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standard’s website, Mississippi—with over 4,300 nationally certified teachers— ranks 7th in the nation.

Since its establishment in the MSU College of Education, there are now five additional World Class Teaching programs on university campuses throughout the state, all of which support new and veteran teachers.

“The future of Mississippi’s teachers appears to be in good hands at Mississippi State University,” Blackbourn said. “Our graduates are highly sought after and are well regarded by school districts throughout the state. Furthermore, the number of individuals entering our programs is increasing dramatically. I believe this is due to the quality of our faculty and the reputation of our programs.”n