Hawkins Grant
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS: A Comprehensive Approach to Enhancing Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
(Funded by The Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program / U.S. Dept of Education)
Hawkins Primary Goals
The Hawkins Program, a unique initiative, aims to bolster comprehensive, high-quality, State-accredited teacher preparation programs. It achieves this by establishing centers of excellence, particularly at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and others. This distinctive program is designed to increase and retain well-prepared teachers from diverse backgrounds, cultivating a more diverse teacher workforce. This workforce will be equipped to educate in our Nation's most underserved elementary and secondary schools, thereby bridging student opportunity and achievement gaps. The program's focus spans the entire teacher preparation pipeline, encompassing recruitment, preparation, support, placement, retention, and retraining of teachers for and in under-resourced schools to support underserved students.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded 91AV, College of Education & Human Performance $2.8M for the "Empowering Educators: A Comprehensive Approach to Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Enhancement" under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (Hawkins) Program. This achievement is a result of the dedicated efforts of the Grant Lead and now PI, Sandra I. Burgos, Interim Dean Dr. Linda Pompa Villarreal, the Director of Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Services, Dr. Sonia A. Perez, the Direct of the Center for Academic Technology, Dr. Rolando Garza, and the Executive Director Title V Programs and Initiatives, Dr. Agnes L. Flores. Their leadership and commitment have been instrumental in this success.
The proposal grant through the Hawkins funding is promoting three (3) primary goals:
1. Elevate the Quality of Our EPP, strengthen the curriculum and assessment, provide an instructional framework, and redesign clinical experiences with the latest educational research and best practices.
2. Provide Professional Development for all participants, both teacher candidates and their cooperating teachers. This is not just a one-time training but a continuous learning journey that ensures all educators constantly develop their skills and knowledge, inspiring them to be the best they can be.
3. The Hawkins grant will sustain the Virtual Student Success Center, a pivotal component of our commitment to providing comprehensive support. The Javelina Education Hub (JEH) is a virtual hub, a treasure trove of resources, mentorship programs, and online communities for all participants, ensuring they are well-equipped to become impactful educators.
These goals will not only support the EPP graduates with scholarships and help them be well-prepared and thrive as impactful educators in the workforce and the Nation but also create a ripple effect beyond each classroom, benefiting all students.