The Mississippi Teacher Corps Class of 2004 finished their coursework on Saturday, May 6th (MTC designates classes by the year they enter).  The teachers presented their final portfolios to their classmates and a panel of instructors.  Joel Harris was named the winner of the “Outstanding Portfolio Award.”

Carmen Jones, Jeff Spanogle, Joe Sweeney, and Elizabeth Young were the runners-up for the "Outstanding Portfolio Award."

"The portfolios were outstanding,” said Ms. Ann Monroe, one of the evaluators.  “The website portfolios were particularly memorable.”

Mr. Harris was also designated “Class Speaker.”  Laura Manion was the winner of the “Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.”

Joe Sweeney was the winner of “The Mullins Award.”  This award is named after Dr. Andy Mullins, the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Teacher Corps.  The award is peer voted and given to the MTC participant who “best exemplifies the values of the Mississippi Teacher Corps.”  Joe will serve as an instructor this summer for the incoming class along with Ms. Monroe.

“This is one of the best classes we have ever had,” said Dr. Mullins.  “An amazing 20 out of 20 are remaining in education.  Fifty percent are staying in K-12 teaching here in Mississippi.  Three more are teaching in other states.  The remaining seven are starting specialist or Ph.D programs in the fall.

(The Class of 2004)

“The attrition rate for this class was low,” said Mr. Ben Guest, the Program Manager for the Teacher Corps.  “We started with 23.  Two left during the initial summer training, and then one more left after the first year teaching.”

“The 50% retention rate of teachers in Mississippi is one of the highest we have ever had,” said Dr. Mullins.

The Class of 2006 Banquet was held that evening.  The awards were announced and Dr. Mullins, Mr. Guest, and Mr. Harris all gave short speeches.  Mr. Harris asked, “The MTC staff has invested two years in our training.  What return will they receive on their investment?”

(The Class of 2004)

The final numbers for the Class of 2004:

20 of 23 people completed the two years.

2 left during the initial summer training.

1 left after the first year.

17 will remain at K-12 teachers.

10 will remain as K-12 teachers in Mississippi (7 at their school of initial placement).

3 will enter graduate school programs in education, either specialist or Ph.D.

20 out of 20 will remain in education is some capacity.

The Mississippi Teacher Corps is the most competitive alternate-route teaching program in the country. It is a two-year program that recruits recent college graduates to teach in critical-shortage areas in the Mississippi Delta, in exchange for a full scholarship for a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Mississippi. The program was founded in 1989 by Amy Gutman, a Harvard University graduate student, and Dr. Andy Mullins, then Special Assistant to the State Superintendent of Education. Since 1989 more than 350 participants, reaching an estimated 70,000 students, have taught in critical-needs school districts as part of the Mississippi Teacher Corps.

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