Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 9/3/98
      Contact:                           Carol Dotson   25

SLU'S TEACHER SCHOLARS SELECTED FOR 98-99 SCHOOL YEAR 
     HAMMOND  Eight novice teachers in Tangipahoa Parish have been selected as
 Teacher Scholars  through a program at Southeastern Louisiana University. The Teacher
Scholars Program, began last year as part of the  Learn for 21st Century  grant and
Southeastern s Pre-Service Teacher Education Reform Project. The program was designed to
give exceptionally promising beginning teachers an opportunity to earn a master s degree in
education in approximately one year. 
     The grant, which was only available for one year, has been incorporated into
Southeastern s College of Education. The Teacher Scholars program identifies prospective
leaders in the field of education who have just begun their teaching career and puts them on a
 fast track  to a master s degree in education. The Teacher Scholars are paired with  Link
Teachers , veteran educators who have been freed from classroom duties to work with the novice
teachers and who also serve as guest lecturers in Southeastern s College of Education. 
     Eight area teachers are participating in the program this year. They are: April Cleveland,
Kelly Moore and Todd Oalmann, teachers at Hammond Westside Upper; Gretchen Michel,
Hammond Junior High; Lori Aguilar, Midway Elementary; Michelle Rosales, Woodland Park;
and Nancy Remidez and Misty Baggett, Independence Elementary. 
     The Teacher Scholars receive weekly vists from the Link Teachers who help them learn
the ropes of school policies and procedures. The Teacher Scholars are provided an experienced
shoulder to lean on to help them reduce or eliminate problems known to be common among
beginning teachers. Participants in the program receive paid tuition and an opportunity to earn an
intensive field-based Master of Education degree in one year.  
     Beth Evans, Teacher Scholars program director, says plans are underway for next year to
add St Tammany and Livingston parish schools, who participated in the program last
year and were partners in the original grant. 

                              -SLU-