To Grow Our Own Teachers

Future Proud Michigan Educator Grants  Awarded to 44 Applicants including NC RESA

LANSING March 18, 2021 – The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has selected 44 grantees  across the state to develop new opportunities for students in grades 6-12 to  explore education professions.  

NC RESA was pleased to learn they would be one of the recipients of this effort to grow and sustain the educator workforce. To develop an interest among local students for a career in the education field.

 “Every school district in Newaygo County is challenged to fill vacancies due to few applicants and fewer young people choosing the teaching profession for a career,” stated Dr. Lori Tubbergen Clark, NC RESA Superintendent.  “I am very concerned about a significant decline in the number of students in Michigan graduating from educator preparation programs. In the 2003-04 school year, Michigan issued 9,664 new teaching certificates. The number dropped in 2017-18 to 3,819.  We will continue to struggle to fill vacancies in Newaygo County where many veteran teachers are exploring retirement.  We are attempting to grow our own future teachers with the grant project.” 

The Future Proud Michigan Explore program is an important element of MDE’s  larger Proud Michigan Educator campaign and a companion  to existing career and technical education 9-12 cadet teacher programs. 

“Teachers help to build a better world, and we need to collectively invest in our  future proud Michigan educators,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “We  need to encourage our young people to consider developing and using their talents  as Michigan educators.” 

Grantees will receive $10,000 in federal Title IIA funding per eligible school  building to build implementation teams, provide student engagement activities,  and plan for hands-on learning through Explore courses in the 2021-22 or 2022-23  academic years. MDE will provide participating school districts with flexible models  for implementation, curricular resources, and free professional development for  educators. 

Grantees proposed several innovative approaches to implementing Explore  programming, including: 
• Virtual and hybrid instruction paired with local teacher mentors • Inclusive and equity-focused programs that intend to bring a more diverse  generation of teachers to future classrooms 
• Programs that will recruit current students into the teaching profession as  advocates for their local communities, including urban, rural and indigenous  communities 
• Programs that attract diverse students into roles as secondary science,  technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educators 
• Increased opportunities for high school students to earn college credits
• Coursework articulated from high school, through a two-year college and  into an educator preparation program 

​In partnership with intermediate school districts, community colleges and post secondary educator preparation programs and other community organizations,  grantees will plan for building pathways to the profession that are clear, accessible, and well-supported. For more information, please visit bit.ly/FuturePME or email MDE [email protected] 


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