REMOVING BARRIERS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

Created nearly four decades ago, the college’s Multicultural Teacher Recruitment Program (MTRP) continues to make an impact by removing barriers, cultivating inclusive excellence and addressing the shortage of multicultural teachers in the classroom.

A partnership among the college, Jefferson County Public Schools and the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, the MTRP helps improve the accessibility of quality teacher preparation by providing financial and academic assistance, as well as professional development to undergraduate and graduate minority students.

In 2023, the MTRP served 127 undergraduate and 52 graduate students on their path to a career in education. All 16 MTRP-supported students who earned their degrees became certified teachers and were employed in local school districts.

“The work of the MTRP is more important than ever, as we help to mitigate the high numbers of teachers retiring, moving out of the classroom or into other professions and fewer students choosing teaching as a career path,” said MTRP Director Whitney Taylor. “It is incumbent upon us to bring more talented, well-trained professionals into the classroom to support students in the critical years ahead, because both teacher quality and teacher diversity matter.”