Project TEACH enjoys success at Southeastern

Press Release Date: 8-17-2011

DURANT, Okla. – Although it has been in operation for less than a year, Project TEACH is already demonstrating success at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Project TEACH (Training Educators to Accept the Challenge) is a Student Support Services program and a cooperative project between Student Affairs and the Education Instruction and Leadership Department. It is specifically designed to enhance Teacher Preparation for K-12 education majors. This new and innovative program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is one of 81 Project TEACH programs in the nation, seven of those being in higher education, and the only one of its kind in Oklahoma.

The mission of this program is to increase the retention and graduation rate of participants. Services include counseling, study sessions, academic monitoring, tutoring, workshops, hands-on technology training, field experiences, and many other activities.

To date, participants have experienced 100 percent passing rates on certification tests and in most instances surpassed the state’s average test score. Of the 140 students in the program, more than half are Elementary Education majors. In addition, more than 90 percent of the original program participants have either graduated or already pre-enrolled this fall, which is a high retention and persistence rate.

As a result of this program, 96 percent of the participants are in good academic standing.

New this year is a state-of-the-art “virtual classroom,” which will be utilized for training and workshops to provide the “cutting edge” technology in the teaching profession.

The Project TEACH staff, consisting of Dr. Rozanna May, director, Cathryn Harmon, coordinator, and Leslie Collins, administrative assistant, has a combined 60 years of teaching experience in Oklahoma and Texas. Staff offices are located on the third floor of the Glen D. Johnson Student Union.

For more information about the program, call 580-745-3304.