CFS Assistant Professors and Co-Directors of the Implementation Sciences for Early Learning Lab (ISELL), Margaret Quinn and Lori Caudle, were recently awarded grants that are vital to the recruitment & preparation of teachers from underrepresented populations as well as the creation of high-quality literacy materials for teaching young children.
Margaret Quinn was awarded the Tennessee Department of Education EPP Innovation grant (specifically the Foundational Skills grant). Zoi Philippakos (TPTE) also serves as PI on the grant. The total amount awarded was $93,749. They developed online foundational literacy skills course content that partner Educator Preparation Providers (UT Martin and Milligan) will roll out with their students, and they will evaluate over the 2021-2022 academic year. Here is a link to read more about their grant work.
Lori Caudle was awarded the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Diversity in Teaching grant. In the program, two TN school districts (Knox and Shelby) have partnered to support pre-K educational assistants in completing their undergraduate degrees in Child and Family Studies and obtaining their teaching license in Early Development and Learning PreK-K (Dual Endorsement). The total award with a match from UT was $169,200. Melody Hobbs and Mary Jane Moran serve as co-directors on the grant. Here is a link to read more about the grant.