The West Virginia University College of Education and Human ServicesDepartment of Curriculum & Instruction/Literacy Studies was awarded a grant in the amount of $115,000 from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Associate Professors Allison Dagen and Aimee Morewood co-authored the proposal for the grant. Funding will go toward supporting preschool teachers in their graduate coursework, as well as providing teachers with mentorship and leadership encouragement.

In addition, this year-long intensive teacher professional development project supports preschool teachers’ efforts in seeking National Board Certification.

The project, a partnership between the CILS department, Office of Early Learning, and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, was designed to include best practice elements of support and mentorship, coaching and collaboration and teacher reflection. Guiding standards from the International Reading Association, National Association of Education of Young Children, National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and West Virginia’s Early Learning Standards will serve as the project’s framework.

“Our focus on preschool teachers’ content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and growth in leadership is unique, and tied to our commitment to the state’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Initiative (UPK) and Governor Tomblin’s commitment to the Campaign for Grade Level Reading,” said Dagen.

The grant implementation for the project will take place over the course of one year starting in August.

-WVU-

cz/04/03/14

Contact: Christie Zachary, College of Education and Human Services
304.293.0224, Christie.Zachary@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.