MDE Awards Southern Miss $196K for Teacher Residency

Thu, 12/04/2025 - 10:17am | By: Karelia Pitts

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) awarded $196,000 to The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) to cover tuition and expenses for up to 14 students in the Golden Eagle Teacher Residency Program. This funding was appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature and will help strengthen and expand the state’s teacher pipeline.

“Our graduate teacher residency program provides an incredible opportunity for individuals who have always wanted to become a teacher to make a meaningful career change with little to no out of pocket expense,” said Andrea Krell, executive director of the Mississippi Center for Apprenticeships and Residency in Education (MCARE).

In 2021, MDE’s Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program provided Southern Miss with over $2 million to launch an inclusive elementary education MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) degree built around a transformative one-year teacher residency experience. USM teacher residents spend a full academic year in an elementary classroom alongside a high-quality mentor teacher while completing their coursework online. This model allows candidates to immediately put course concepts into practice.

Annually, the graduate cohorts have averaged 20 students and offered a steady supply of new Mississippi teachers who enter their first full-time jobs with invaluable preparation and a true understanding of what it takes to be an educator. This additional funding from MDE will help Southern Miss sustain the success experienced over the last four years.

“In the midst of the state’s teacher shortage, we are exploring a new idea: What if Southern Miss built a statewide earn-and-learn model that could diversify the teacher pipeline and stabilize Mississippi’s rural workforce?” said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the Southern Miss College of Education and Human Sciences. “For the past six years, our efforts have intentionally focused on building apprenticeship and residency pathways, expanding stakeholder partnerships, and finding financially sustainable ways to continue making an impact. MCARE represents the culmination of our efforts and illustrates what is possible when preparation, partnership, funding and mission all align.”

Southern Miss is among nine Mississippi Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) awarded a total of $2,968,855 in grants through MDE’s MTR program this year. Across the IHE’s, up to 236 individuals seeking licensure in elementary and special education will receive funding and support.

“Our program alumni truly embody what it means to be day-one ready for the classroom. Watching them thrive in their schools after graduation, and earn honors like New Teacher of the Year, fills us with pride and drives us to keep improving the program for the future of education in our state,” said Krell.

Click here for more information about teacher apprenticeship and residency pathways at Southern Miss. To learn more about the Mississippi Teacher Residency program, click here.