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 What is the
Mississippi Teacher Corps?
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The Mississippi Teacher Corps is a professional
program for highly motivated, outstanding college graduates willing to take
on the challenge of high school instruction for a two-year period or
longer. Participants receive the following benefits:
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Free
tuition for a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction
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Stipend
for Books
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Accommodating
Class Schedule (Weekend Classes)
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Housing
for Weekend Courses
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Continuous
Field Support
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Education Graduates are ineligible. Individuals that are already
certified to teach through the alternate route may be eligible, depending
on the amount of education courses they have had.
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Objective
of the Program
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The objective of the
program is three-fold:
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To provide dedicated,
talented teachers for Mississippi school districts where an inadequate supply of teachers exists.
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To afford a structured
entry into the teaching profession for outstanding liberal arts graduates
who may have never taught before.
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To identify and nurture
educational leaders for the 21st century.
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Initial Training
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The two-year program
begins with an intensive eight-week summer institute designed for recruits
to acquire the professional education knowledge and skills needed to assist
them in the transition to a teaching role. The summer training component
will take place at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. The eight-week
institute, combined with passing scores on the Praxis I and II, enables
recruits to qualify for teacher certification with the Mississippi State
Department of Education. Upon successful completion of certification
requirements, recruits contract to teach for at least two years in the
public school districts selected on the basis of local need and at the
discretion of the Mississippi Teacher Corps office.
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Passing scores on the Praxis I must be submitted
by the application deadline, and it is strongly recommended that the
Praxis II be taken before applying.
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Ongoing Support
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In an effort
to provide ongoing support and training of recruits once they
enter the classrooms, the Mississippi Teacher Corps members
pursue a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
During the initial teaching year, participants are enrolled
in weekend classes where university faculty assist in meeting
their specific teaching needs. School of Education faculty make field visits to Corps members in their
public school classrooms to provide additional guidance and
assistance. Participants take additional semester hours of course
work during the first summer session and the following fall
to complete the Master of Arts degree. During the initial summer
training segment, recruits receive tuition, textbooks, housing,
and a food allowance. Tuition and textbooks will be provided
for courses offered in the M.A. program with assistance for
overnight stays for weekend classes. Teacher Corps members receive
full pay (starting salary $28,000) and benefits from the school
district where they are placed.
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