Partnerships are Essential to Preparing High-Quality Educators
The Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State thrives on strong partnerships
with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, corporate organizations, and non-profit
organizations in the community. These collaborations provide teacher candidates with
valuable real-world experience and equip them with the skills needed to lead in diverse
classrooms. Through partnerships with local school districts, corporate contributors,
and international organizations, BCOE ensures its graduates are prepared to meet the
evolving needs of students in a dynamic educational landscape.
As a nationally recognized Educator Preparation Provider, the Bagwell College of Education
is at the forefront of teacher preparation. A key to our success is establishing mutually
beneficial partnerships with a variety of entities.
Community Partnership Opportunities
Educator Workforce Development Partnerships (K-12 Partners)
Community engagement and teacher preparation go hand-in-hand in the Bagwell College. In this model of teacher education, our teacher candidates gain invaluable experience in and out of the classroom, providing local school communities with access to expertise and services they might not have otherwise.
Partnerships with public and private school K-12 educators, other institutions of higher education, international educators, and members of the metropolitan Atlanta community enrich the academic experience for all education majors at KSU. While in-depth information on partnerships can be found throughout this website, a glimpse of the big picture provides an appreciation for the depth and diversity of the Bagwell experience.
Community engagement is deeply embedded in the BCOE teaching model. BCOE teacher candidates
are prepared to be successful 21st century educators who deeply understand how to
help all students achieve. They graduate from KSU eager to become active in the communities
they serve, with skills that foster meaningful insight into how communities and life
experiences shape learning styles.
Kennesaw State University has graduated the best and most prepared teachers I could find. ... The first year teachers act as if they have been in the business for years. I appreciate the job KSU Bagwell College of Education is doing for the Cherokee County Schools and River Ridge High School. We thank you!!! ”
Darrell Herring, Principal, River Ridge High School
Center for Education Placements and Partnerships
The Center for Education Placements and Partnerships (CEPP) manages field placements for BCOE teacher candidates through new and longstanding relationships with 11 partner school districts in the metropolitan Atlanta region and several private schools. These core relationships, and the BCOE’s ongoing relationship with the Georgia Department of Education, have fostered many successful partnerships, some of which are listed below.
K-12 Partnerships enrich teacher candidates’ perspectives and deepen their capacity to understand that education goes beyond the classroom, and all stakeholders – student, teacher, family, school, community – must work together to achieve the best possible education for each student.
Bagwell offers professional development to a wide number of K-12 educators through conferences, workshops, mentoring and/or graduate degree programs for practicing K-12 educators.
Corporate & Community Partnerships
Partnerships with corporate and community organizations serve to provide resources
such as in-kind contributions and gifts.
Partnerships with other educational organizations at the undergraduate level include
those that provide a seamless college/university experience for students who prefer
to begin their college career at two-year institutions. At the graduate level, higher
education partnerships include national and international collaborations that improve
and transform the education profession
Atlanta Metropolitan State University 2 + 2 Program
Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate
Chattahoochee Technical College
Georgia Perimeter College
Gwinnett Technical College
Paulding 2 + 2 Georgia Highlands Partnership
Tri-Association: The Assn. of American Schools of Central America, Columbia, Caribbean
& Mexico
Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador) Research Development Partnership
Universidad de Valladolid - Valladolid, Spain
Partnership Spotlight
February 2025 | Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) and the
Educational Leadership Department
Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) and the Educational Leadership Department at Kennesaw State University (KSU) have established a formal partnership to expand leadership opportunities to Georgia Educators. The partnership
allows graduates of the (GLISI) Aspiring Leaders program to earn nine hours toward
the newly established Master of Education in Teacher and Educational Leadership. This unique degree is only offered at KSU, and it prepares candidates to obtain Tier I and Teacher Leadership state certifications. Tier I certification allows educators to serve in various school-based leadership roles, such as Assistant Principals. Teacher Leadership prepares educators for various non-administrative leadership roles, such as instructional coaches, subject area department chairs, Professional Learning Community (PLC) leads, etc.
Our Very Important Partners
Below you will find a list of our VIPs, our Very Important Partners!
School Districts
Atlanta Public Schools
Barrow County Schools
Bartow County School District
Calhoun City Schools
Cartersville City Schools
Cherokee County School District
Cobb County School District
Columbia County School District
Commerce City School District
Dalton Public Schools
Decatur City School District
Dekalb County School District
Douglas County School District
Fayette County School District
Floyd County School District
Forsyth County School District
Fulton County School District
Gilmer County School District
Glynn County School District
Gordon County School District
Gwinnett Public School District
Hall County School District
Henry County School District
Houston County School District
Jackson County School District
Marietta City Schools – expiring March 1
Newton County School District
Paulding County School District
Pickens County School District
Polk County School District
Rockdale County School District
Rome City School District
Walton County School District
Walker County Schools
Whitfield County School District
Private and Charter Schools
Academy of Scholars
Annunciation Day School
Archdiocese of Atlanta
Atlanta International School
Centennial Academy Charter
Cherokee Charter School
Dekalb Preparatory School
Department of Defense
Georgia Connections Academy
International Charter School of Atlanta
The Kindezi Schools
Mount Pisgah Christian School
The RISE Schools
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
SAE School
Tapestry Public Charter School
The Walker School
Trinity Presbyterian Preschool
West Cobb Preparatory School
Corporate, Governmental & Collegiate Partners
Chantal and Tommy Bagwell
City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office
Chick-Fil-A
Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation
Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Department of Education
Georgia Power Company
Georgia Professional Standards Commission
Google
Kapor Center
Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
PNC Bank
UL-Fire Safety Research Institute (Underwriters Laboratories Solutions)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Universidad del Rosario, Columbia
Partnership Spotlight Archive
Spotlight Year 2025
January 2025
School of Instructional Technology & International Society for Technology in Education
(ISTE)
The School of Instructional Technology & Innovation at Kennesaw State University's
Bagwell College of Education has partnered with ISTE and Microsoft to equip preservice
educators with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively integrate Generative
AI into teaching and learning. This fall, the School of Instructional Technology and
Innovation was invited to pilot an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) module
designed by ISTE to prepare preservice educators for incorporating Generative AI into
teaching and learning. A select group of 10 students, under the leadership of Dr.
Tricia Frazier, participated in the pilot, gaining valuable insights into the future
of education.
The 5-hour module, supported by a sponsorship from Microsoft, includes an introduction
to AI, its ethical considerations, and practical applications for teaching and learning,
along with hands-on activities and a certificate upon completion. As part of the pilot,
Dr. Frazier had the unique opportunity to collaborate with ISTE's course designers,
offering feedback to refine the module before its wider international release.
This spring, this opportunity will be expanded to preservice teachers enrolled in
ITEC 3100 and ITEC 3200, ensuring they can complete the module and earn their AI certificates
at no cost. Thanks to our partnership with ISTE and Microsoft, we are empowering future
educators with essential skills to navigate and leverage AI effectively in their classrooms.
We are grateful for our partners at ISTE and Microsoft for their dedication to enhancing
preservice teacher education. Their support allows us to remain at the forefront of
preparing educators for the evolving landscape of teaching and learning!
Spotlight Year 2024
December 2024
The Experiential Teacher Project In 2019, a partnership was established between the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department’s Experiential Teacher Project (ETP), the Canadian Sea Turtle Network (CSTN) and the Nature Seekers (NS) in Matura, Trinidad. The mission of the Experiential Teacher Project, established and led by Terri Collins, is to…
“INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHERS TO ADVOCATE FOR CONSERVATION.”
The components of this triple partnership are to develop opportunities to provide future teachers and their students experiences in areas of authentic conservation efforts, cultural diversity, and global classroom comparisons. KSU faculty and staff participate in the eight-day volunteer experience with CSTN and the NS. This experience includes:
Assisting the NS in monitoring and collecting data from nesting leatherback sea turtles
on Matura Beach during night eco-tourism tours
Providing the local elementary school in Matura with materials and science/stem experiences
Experiencing diversity through immersion experiences provided by the NS such as lodging
and food in Matura as well as excursions to other diverse areas of Trinidad
Sharing experiences with the Canadian participants
At present, materials and presentations are provided to EECE Methods in Teaching Science
students and local elementary schools. In the future, the goal is to provide EECE
students the opportunity to participate in the actual CSTN/NS experience and return
to create and share quality resources and a passion for teaching science to a broad
audience of educators.
November 2024
Innovative Collaboration
Kennesaw State University (KSU) recently celebrated an innovative collaboration led by Dr. Sue Kasun of Georgia State University (GSU), with KSU’s Dr. Zurisaray Espinosa as co-PI, in partnership with esteemed faculty from in Mexico. This project aimed to transform dual language (DL) education by integrating Indigenous knowledge and Native science into K-12 classrooms, addressing a critical need for culturally responsive science curriculum in DL settings.
This initiative was inspired by the rapid expansion of DL programs, particularly in metro Atlanta, where programs have grown from four in 2017 to over 60 today. The project’s focus was to bridge the gap in bilingual science resources by drawing on Native science principles that promote ecological responsibility and Indigenous knowledge, aligning with DL education’s goals of intercultural awareness and academic rigor.
Dr. Espinosa joined Dr. Kasun and Mexican colleagues in summer workshops in Mexico, working alongside Indigenous community members to lay the groundwork for curriculum development. The pilot curriculum was introduced at Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and further supported by professional development sessions for DL teachers. The initiative culminated in keynote presentations by the Mexican collaborators at KSU’s annual ESOL Teacher Conference, sharing their insights with hundreds of Georgia educators.
This partnership exemplifies the impact of cross-cultural collaboration in creating
meaningful, accessible STEM education rooted in Indigenous knowledge, with plans to
expand this model to DL programs nationwide. This work was supported by the Atlanta
Global Studies Center AGREC funding.
October 2024
Secondary & Middle Grades Education Curriculum & Instruction Program and Forsyth County
Schools
In December 2023, a 5th-grade teacher at Whitlow Elementary, Corey Martin, organized
a cohort of educators interested in pursuing a Specialist in Education in Curriculum
and Instruction. Over the following months, the teacher diligently guided a group
of 30 teachers through the graduate school application process, overseeing acceptance,
registration, and the resumption of K-12 classes. For many of these educators, this
marked their first experience as students in over a decade.
The Superintendent became aware of the teachers' initiative and disseminated an email
throughout the district. By the close of summer registration, more than 60 teachers
had enrolled in a cohort specifically designed to meet the needs of Forsyth County
Schools.
Throughout the spring and summer of 2024, faculty in Curriculum and Instruction worked
extensively to revise the curriculum, adjust course sequencing, and provide advising
to students. Now halfway through their second semester, the cohort is actively engaged
in the program. The initial organizer has taken on the role of Graduate Research Assistant
in the Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education, continuing efforts to
streamline graduate education processes for teachers. We extend our gratitude to our
partners in Forsyth!
September 2024
Spotlight on a Groundbreaking Partnership: KSU and Marietta City Schools
The Department of Educational Leadership at Kennesaw State University's Bagwell College
of Education has launched an innovative partnership with Marietta City Schools (MCS)
aimed at preparing the next generation of teacher-leaders. This collaboration is anchored
by the newly established Dual Certification Master's program in Teacher Leadership
and Educational Leadership, designed to foster sustainable and effective distributed
leadership within the district.
MCS district leaders have worked closely with KSU faculty to tailor courses to meet
the district's unique needs. These customized courses integrate KSU's cutting-edge
curriculum, ensuring a mission-specific connection between academic theory and real-world
application. The program also leverages candidates' on-the-job experiences, offering
significant time and financial savings.
Upon completion, graduates will earn a master's degree and certifications in Teacher Leadership, Tier I Educational Leadership, and a GaPSC Coaching Certificate—all in under two years for less than $10,000. This partnership is expected to serve as a model for similar collaborations across the state.
August 2024
The Department of Inclusive Education and the Cobb County School District (CCSD)
The Interactive Research Methods Lab (IRML) has launched a new branch at Daniel Middle
School in the Cobb County School District.
This initiative is built on an adapted version of Hopscotch, co-developed in collaboration with Dr. Tiffany Post, a media specialist at the school and an alumna of our college. Dr. Post, along with her team of librarians and media specialists, has worked closely with Drs. Wright, Jorrín, and Sadeghinia to develop and implement the lab. The new IRML branch is designed to equip students with fundamental research skills, fostering their academic growth and critical thinking abilities.
July 2024
iTeach & Paulding County School District
Congratulations to iTeach for their partnership with the Paulding County School District to launch a new teacher induction program, the NEST (Novice Educator Support and Training). This program aims to provide essential guidance, coaching, and professional development to the county’s newest teachers. The NEST program integrates embedded coaching focused on classroom practices, providing feedback, and collaboratively planning effective teaching strategies. In addition, each teacher will receive virtual coaching support as needed, allowing for personalized discussions, addressing specific challenges, and sharing best practices. Professional development days will be held on the KSU campus, featuring specialized labs from the Bagwell College of Education.
June 2024
The Department of Inclusive Education and the YoungHwa Elementary School in South Korea
Dr. Jayoung Choi has established a partnership with YoungHwa Elementary School in Incheon, South Korea since 2019. Dr. Choi has designed and implemented three different projects in collaboration with her fellow researchers and YoungHwa: (a) KSU preservice teachers teaching and learning from YoungHwa students, (b) YoungHwa students virtually engaging with Korean specials class at Parsons Elementary School in Georgia through vlogs, and (c) YoungHwa students enhancing global and science knowledge by connecting with third-grade students at the Parsons’ Korean-English Dual Language Bilingual Language program.
The first project implemented in her undergraduate TESOL methods course in Spring 2019 was an innovative teaching endeavor. Funded by the KSU’s Division of Global Affairs, this project granted a transformative experience for her preservice teachers as they witnessed bi-lingual/-literacy practices in action. YoungHwa students also taught the U.S. teachers about Korean culture and language in one-on-one virtual exchanges.
Supported by the Atlanta Global Research and Education Collaborative (AGREC) from 2021 to 2023, the global and virtual projects that connected Parsons’ and YoungHwa’s elementary students permitted both students situated in the U.S. and South Korea to deeply learn about each other’s cultures and science content knowledge.
Dr. Choi and her colleagues are committed to continuing this important partnership
with YoungHwa Elementary School by pursuing more grants and by devising more innovative
projects.
May 2024
The Department of Inclusive Education and the Dekalb County School District (DCSD)
The Department of Inclusive Education is proud to partner with the Dekalb County School District on the IGNITE (Inspiring Greatness and Normalizing Innovation in Teacher Education) DeKalb Teacher Residency Program. The purpose of the program is to create an alternate route to certification designed to prepare high quality, committed, aspiring teachers who can work effectively with students in Horizon schools across the District. The Inclusive Education Department in the Bagwell College of Education will provide the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in Special Education. KSU’s iTeach unit will provide coaching for the mentor teachers.
The aspiring teachers may be current paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, tutors,
non-certified employees, or college graduates who have a passion for teaching the
next generation of scholars. During the entirety of their preparation program, selected
candidates will be given the opportunity to earn a post-secondary credential and teacher
certification at no out-of-pocket cost. The DeKalb County School District will bear
all cost of all tuition, textbooks, certification assessments, and fees on behalf
of candidates selected. All candidates will be employed by DCSD and serve in a paid
$30,000, full-time, student-facing position, alongside a mentor, while completing
their coursework and clinical experience requirements.
April 2024
Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education and Campbell High School
The Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education (SMGE) is proud to partner with Campbell High School to facilitate a Paired Placement model for YCE1 and YCE2. The goal of the paired placement partnership is to learn the most efficient ways to implement student teaching so that teacher candidates develop proficiency with implementing the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2014) eight mathematics teaching practices, along with other equitable mathematics teaching strategies. In the mathematics paired-placement model—often referred to as co-teaching or collaborative student teaching—is a structure in which two secondary mathematics teacher candidates are placed together in the same classroom under the supervision of a single mentor teacher. The mentor teacher serves as a model and resource, facilitating the professional growth of both teacher candidates. The teacher candidates work closely together, planning and delivering instruction collaboratively. This trio of teachers works collaboratively to address student learning as a team (Leatham & Peterson, 2010).
There are opportunities for each teacher candidate to lead the class, create individual lesson plans, and manage different parts of the curriculum, but they consistently support each other’s teaching. This model is designed to foster collaboration and peer learning among the teacher candidates. It proves beneficial because it mirrors real-world teaching scenarios where collaboration with colleagues is often essential. It also helps reduce the isolation that some teacher candidates feel during traditional, solo teaching placements.
The SMGE partnership, under the leadership of Dr. Belinda Edwards embodies a shared
commitment to advancing teacher preparation models. Together Campbell High School
and KSU are collaboratively shaping a brighter future in education.
March 2024
Fulton County School District and iTeach
Teach is partnering with the Fulton County School District on developing a "Mobile Learning Experience" to teach 5th grade science standards. iTeach consulted with the district for two years to plan, design, outfit, and operate their new “Mobile Learning Experience”. iTeach wrote the curriculum and is now implementing the curriculum with a variety of 5th grade classes. On the bus, iTeach conducts various experiments with the students to reinforce 5th grade science standards.
The Fulton County School District science test scores are improving since iTeach has
been working with them on this project. As a result of the success, Fulton may expand
the program next year to the entire county and include both 5th and 8th grade science
classes.
Learn more about the partnership in a news article by the AJC.
February 2024
PAGE and the Bagwell College of Education
For almost 20 years, the Bagwell College of Education has collaborated with PAGE (Professional
Association of Georgia Educators) to sponsor the Georgia Academic Decathlon. GAD is
a high school academic competition where teams across the state compete in their region
for the opportunity to come to the State Decathlon.
Decathletes test in areas of Essay, Testing in 7 areas (Art, Economics, Literature,
Mathematics, Music, Science and Social Science), Interview, and Speech. There is also
a team competition called Super Quiz where teams work together in rounds answering
questions including all subject areas. Each team is comprised of 3-A, 3-B, and 3-C
students.
Top decathletes in each area and grade division receive medals at a banquet at the end of competition. The winning team goes on to represent Georgia at the US Academic Decathlon. Each year there is a different theme. The season starts with the teams coming to KSU for fall workshop where KSU faculty host sessions on the various topics for the year.
GAD is held each year on the last weekend in February and relies on volunteers for
judges, proctors, and speech timers. For more information and to volunteer, please
visit pageinc.org
January 2024
Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education and Fair Oaks Elementary School
The Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education is excited to partner with
Fair Oaks Elementary School. Led by the dedicated administration of Mrs. Cathie Seibert,
Fair Oaks, a Title I elementary school in Cobb County, has embraced a transformative
model for teaching and learning to meet the unique needs of its student population.
This innovative collaboration entails weekly onsite early literacy classes conducted
by Dr. Virginie Jackson.
KSU scholars, in turn, apply their acquired skills to practical scenarios, fostering
a dynamic link between research-based learning and real-world teaching experiences.
This partnership exemplifies a shared commitment to advancing teacher preparation
models with Fair Oaks and KSU collaboratively shaping a brighter future in education--one
transformative teacher education literacy class at a time.
Spotlight Year 2023
December 2023
Bagwell College of Education and Jumpstart
The Bagwell College of Education is excited to partner with the nonprofit organization, Jumpstart, to advance equitable learning outcomes for young children in underserved communities. Shereen Zimmerman is the new site manager for Jumpstart housed in Bagwell. Shereen is recruiting KSU students to deliver high-quality programming to preschool children. The goals of Jumpstart are to:
Serve students who attend ECE centers and daycare centers in the KSU community through
a lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Increase Kindergarten readiness for students in Pre-K programs using rich literacy
learning sessions. Increase teacher readiness and expertise in the Birth through Kindergarten Program
through training, planning, modeling, and delivering effective literacy assessments
and instruction. Increase teacher workforce through successful acceptance, retention, transition, and
progression through KSU Bagwell School of Education programs.
November 2023
Bagwell College of Education and the Rome City School District
The Bagwell College of Education is excited to partner with the Rome City School District
aimed at supporting educators pursuing advanced degrees. The program promises to enhance
the professional capacity of the educators in RCSD and facilitate their growth as
they seek advanced degrees. The program is specifically designed to align with the
strategic objectives of the district.
October 2023
Wellstar College of Health and Human Services and the Bagwell College of Education
An interdisciplinary team headed by Monica Nandan, director of strategic partnerships and social impact in Kennesaw State’s Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, has been awarded a $4.45 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education. Faculty from the Wellstar College and the Bagwell College of Education will collaborate on the project to bring Master of Social Work students and specially trained student teachers into Georgia public schools in Bartow, Floyd, Gordon, Paulding and Polk counties, as well as provide specialized intervention training to teachers and school-based police officers there. Dr. Virginie Jackson will coordinate the placements of student teachers for the Bagwell College of Education.
Learn more about the grant in a news article by KSU.
September 2023
KSU's Bagwell College of Education and the Paulding County School District
The Bagwell College of Education is excited to partner with the Paulding County School
District to boost teaching within the critical areas of math, science, special education,
and elementary education. The Paulding Degree Advancement Program (DAP) is uniquely
tailored to the district's strategic priorities and will provide undergraduate and
graduate degrees for paraprofessionals and certified teachers in the Paulding County
School District in the following areas:
Undergraduate:
Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education (P-5)
Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Education (BSED) (6-12)
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT):
Secondary Math (6-12
Secondary Biology (6-12)
Secondary Chemistry (6-12)
Secondary Physics (6-12)
Special Education (PK-12) -
General Curriculum
Master of Education (MED):
Master of Education in Secondary and Middle Grades Education (6-12)
Master of Education in Special Education (PK-12) - General Curriculum
August 2023
Future Misters Academy and the Cobb County School District
The Call ME MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Towards Effective Role Models) program
of KSU has partnered with Cobb County School District for the annual Future MISTERs
Academy. The Future MISTERs Academy is a three-day on campus experience that recruits
male students of color who are interested in pursuing the field of education.
This past June, 11 middle and high school students from Cobb County met current faculty/staff
members in the Bagwell College of Education, toured the campus of KSU, and engaged
in enrichment activities. These experiences provided the students with valuable information
about careers in the classroom and the importance to increase the pool of available
teachers from a broader more diverse background.
This year the Future MISTERs Academy was featured in the news twice - 11 Alive and WSB-TV. Through this collegiate experience, students learned what it means to become a teacher
and a mentor in the classroom.
July 2023
The IRML Lab and the Georgia Department of Education
Congratulations to the Interactive Research Methods Lab (IRML) for its partnership
with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) to develop a rubric for the Georgia
Teacher Induction Certification Program. Dr. Ivan Jorrin Abellan and Dr. Traci Redish
worked with a statewide GaDOE task force to facilitate the development of a rubric
that includes the seven required components of a Georgia Certified Teacher Induction
Program.
The seven components include: Roles and Responsibilities, Leadership and Organizational Structures, Mentoring, Orientation Ongoing Performance Assessment Professional Learning, and Program Evaluation. A training video was also developed that explains the different components of the rubric. The rubric will be piloted by school districts throughout Georgia in Fall 2023.
June 2023
Rivers 2 Reef: A Partnership with the Georgia Aquarium and KSU Elementary Education
Science Professors
Congratulations to the science professors in the Department of Elementary Education
for their partnership with the Georgia Aquarium on the Rivers 2 Reef Professional Development Program.
Drs. Jessica Stephenson Reaves, Rasheda Likely, and Anna Maria Arias are partnering
with Molly Johnson from Georgia Aquarium to facilitate the Rivers 2 Reefs Workshop
for Georgia science teachers. During the week-long professional development workshop,
the teachers will follow the Altamaha River watershed to see how water flows from
the city of Atlanta all the way to the Grey Reef along the coast of Georgia.
The workshop hosted by the Georgia Aquarium involves water testing and investigation of Georgia ecosystems at multiple sites through activities such as kayaking, hiking, wetlands walks, and trawling in the ocean. Drs. Stephenson Reaves, Likely, and Arias will facilitate aspects of the professional development focused on investigating water quality and pollution, as well as how to support students learning about water in the ecosystems of Georgia. The KSU team is conducting a research study to understand the teachers’ motivation and learning during the Rivers 2 Reefs workshop and to examine how the teachers use the ideas and resources from the workshop within their classroom to support student learning.
April 2023
The Avatar Lab and the Georgia Department of Education
Congratulations to the AVATAR Lab for its ongoing partnership with the Georgia Department
of Education on the Model Induction Program for Special Education Teachers. This program
is designed to improve the retention of new special education teachers through high
quality mentoring, coaching, and induction support. The AVATAR Lab is providing train-the-trainer
materials and support for mixed reality simulation professional learning on High Leverage
Practices and IEP development and implementation. This partnership is part of a USDOE
Georgia Teacher/Provider Retention Grant awarded on September 28, 2020 to the Georgia
Department of Education, Division for Special Education Services and Supports.
The award is for $500,000 per year for up to five years to address the retention of
special education teachers and early intervention providers that have the necessary
skills, knowledge, and support to effectively serve children with disabilities and
their families. One of the participating districts, Marietta City Schools, recently
celebrated their induction cohort completing the year-long professional learning using
the AVATAR Lab .
March 2023
Korean-English Dual Language Bilingual Education and Gwinnett County Public Schools
Dr. Jayoung Choi has established a partnership with the Korean-English Dual Language Bilingual Education (K-E DLBE; commonly known as Dual Language Immersion, DLI) program at Parsons Elementary School in Gwinnett County Public Schools since 2020. She works with her postdoctoral researcher Dr. Tuba Angay-Crowder and her colleagues from other universities to enhance the effectiveness and equity of the K-E DLBE program. Dr. Choi and her research team have helped build bilingual instructional materials in second and third grade STEM classes and solidify the curricula in the Korean Specials class that teaches Korean culture to all Parsons students, not just to the K-E DLBE students. Dr. Choi’s team has also led two virtual and global exchange projects where Parsons students created and exchanged videos in collaboration with elementary students in South Korea.
Dr. Choi’s partnership with Parsons is continuing, and more impactful activities are being planned and unfolded. For instance, they are planning workshops and professional development for teachers and parents in the program. Dr. Choi’s team is committed to supporting the K-E DLBE program as they see it as an innovative solution to injustice multilingual learners of immigrant origin have long endured in the English-only education system in the U.S.
February 2023
Department of Educational Leadership and Rockdale County Public Schools
Congratulations to the Department of Educational Leadership (EDL) for its partnership with Rockdale County Public Schools to offer embedded leadership development in concert with Rockdale’s ASPIRE leadership cohort and REAL leadership academy. The ASPIRE cohort is competitively geared toward individuals desiring to become entry-level leaders in the school district, such as school-based assistant principals or central office-based coordinators. The leaders developed in the ASPIRE program and REAL Academy have unprecedented opportunities for learning while doing in real school environments with regular support from seasoned leaders.
Strong theoretical foundations and a research-based curriculum within the Tier I Certification
programs at KSU bolster this practical experience. Further, each element of this program
adheres to the rigorous standards set forth by the GaPSC. The thoughtful and intentional
programming in connection with standards-based leadership development across the partnership
represents a level of leader preparation rarely matched in any field. The program
is rigorous while also remaining nimble to meet the needs of each of its members and
respond to the shifting demands of the educational leadership profession.
January 2023
Department of Inclusive Education and Cartersville City Schools
Congratulations to Dr. Nihal Khote and the Department of Inclusive Education for the
partnership with the Cartersville City School District to provide a year-long professional
development to middle and high school ESOL teachers. The purpose of this professional
development is to advance English language reading and writing literacy skills of
English learners (ELs) to prepare them for district and state assessments. In this
partnership, Dr. Khote and the ESOL teachers will develop an English language learning
curriculum that spirals from basic to complex language instruction to apprentice ELs
into academic literacy across the content areas over the course of the 2022-23 academic
year.
Spotlight Year 2022
December 2022
Asian American Studies Teacher Workshop with Gwinnett County Public School District
Congratulations to Drs. Theresa Alviar-Martin and Sohyun An for their partnership with Gwinnett County Public School District and Asian American Voices for Education to offer a year-long professional development workshops for K-12 teachers in the Gwinnett County schools. In the workshops, Dr. Alviar-Martin and Dr. An engage teachers in building knowledge and skills to incorporate Asian American histories and narratives into the district’s social studies standards. They also provide curricular and pedagogical resources to support classroom implementation. Gwinnett County School District provides stipends for all teachers who attend the workshops.
November 2022
iTeach & Mississippi Department of Education
Congratulations to iTeach for its partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education
(MDE). Beginning in June 2021, MDE partnered with iTeach to implement a comprehensive
professional development program focused on supporting Digital Learning Coaches in
their practice. Support from iTeach addresses six key areas: (1) one-on-one coaching,
(2) self-paced coaching modules, (3) facilitation of collaborative monthly meetings,
(4) facilitation of professional development events, (5) delivery of webinars, and
(6) monthly consulting meetings with MDE leadership. Through this partnership, iTeach
has implemented an effective model for virtual coaching support.
October 2022
Interactive Research Methods Lab (IRML) & Underwriters Laboratories Research Institutes
Congratulations to the Interactive Research Methods Lab for its partnership with the
UL Research Institutes for the evaluation of "Xplorlabs Fire Forensics: Claims and
Evidence module" adopted in Cobb and Cherokee Counties middle schools. The evaluation
will provide an understanding of the outcomes of the Fire Forensics UL Xplorlabs modules
for participating teachers, students, and the fire services. Moreover, it will also
provide hints on how to create a community education model for Xplorlabs in other
areas of the United States.
This partnership includes collaboration among UL, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Cobb
County Fire Department, Woodstock Fire Department, Cherokee Fire Department, the Society
of Fire Protection Engineers Greater Atlanta Chapter, and the IRML.
September 2022
School of Instructional Technology & Innovation & Georgia Department of Education
Congratulations to the School of Instructional Technology & Innovation (SITI) for
its partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) to offer the Personalized
Learning Endorsement (PLE) to teachers participating in the GRE4T grant with GaDOE.
Teachers take the three courses in the endorsement from SITI and GaDOE pays for the
courses through the GRE4T grant--providing this professional learning opportunity
free of charge. The PLE endorsement prepares educators to personalize learning for
K-12 students through competencies such as executive functioning, learner agency,
asset-based dispositions, and growth and mastery mindset.
August 2022
Fast Start Academy & Marietta City Schools
Congratulations to Drs. Megan Adams and Sanjuana Rodriguez for their partnership with Marietta City Schools to offer the Fast Start Academy, a 4-week summer program housed in KSU’s Bagwell College of Education. In the Fast Start Academy, KSU students and faculty provide tutoring and educational activities for elementary school children who are below grade level in reading. It is provided at no cost to families in an effort to improve literacy skills and provide positive role models. Marietta City Schools provides breakfast and lunch for the students. The school district also offers bus service for students to get to and from KSU’s campus.