Duke, Marian University Supporting Training Program
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDuke Energy Indiana and Marian University are partnering to provide three school districts with teacher and administrator training. Grants totaling $75,000 will fund programs through the university's Academy For Teaching And Learning Leadership.
November 6, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Duke Energy Indiana and Marian University (www.marian.edu) are partnering to ensure that three school corporations have the resources they need to advance education in their communities. The Duke Energy Indiana grants, totaling $75,000, will fund programs in Greater Clark County Schools, Vincennes Community Schools, and Sheridan Community Schools, through Marian University's Academy for Teaching and Learning Leadership (MU-ATLL).
Each of the three school corporations will receive a customized program from MU-ATLL, which provides graduate-level education to those who aspire to become K-12 teachers, and current K-12 teachers seeking to become principals and administrators in their schools.
“Developing great teachers is one of the most valuable things we can do to support education in our state,” Duke Energy Indiana President Doug Esamann said. “A dynamic teacher can be key to student achievement, and Marian University is using this grant to help three Indiana school systems reach new levels of teacher training.”
Current teachers in the Greater Clark County Schools will obtain credit toward an advanced degree and licensure as a school principal through MU-ATLL's Building Level Administrator program. The program consists of monthly courses and meetings tailored to meet the needs of the school corporation.
“We greatly appreciate Marian University and Duke Energy for their support of our leadership academy,” Dr. Andrew Melin, superintendent, Greater Clark County Schools, said. “It is an outstanding opportunity for our teachers to enhance their education as well as their professional careers.”
Attracting teachers for math, science, and foreign language is difficult for K-12 schools nationally, but the problem has been especially challenging for Vincennes Community Schools due to changing demographics and declining population in the area. Thanks to Duke Energy Indiana's grant, additional financial support is now available to ensure that teachers in these high need subject areas receive required certifications. Training provided through MU-ATLL will allow teachers to obtain full licensure through the state, and qualify them for high-demand teaching positions.
“The Vincennes Community School Corporation is indebted to Marian University and Duke Energy for allowing opportunities for present teaching faculty to advance their certification which promotes strong retention of our best and brightest teachers,” Dr. Greg Parsley, superintendent, Vincennes Community School Corporation, said. “Further, this opportunity allows the VCSC to be that much more of an attractive place for new teachers to begin their teaching because of the endless possibilities with regard to certification, thanks to our newest of partners in Marian University and also our long-time existing partner Duke Energy.”
The population in Hamilton County is growing faster than any area of the state. In order to minimize the growing pains that inevitably accompany rapid growth, Sheridan Community Schools is embarking on a strategic visioning process to engage the local community and set a course of action for the next five years. Duke Energy Indiana has committed financial support for the process, which will help ensure the schools' ability to serve a student population that is expected to increase significantly in the next decade. Marian University is partnering with Sheridan Community Schools to provide strategic planning services and marketing/communication materials to maximize success and engagement.
“We are thankful to have the assistance of Marian University and Duke Energy as we look to develop our future goals for Sheridan Community Schools,” Dr. Dave Mundy, superintendent, Sheridan Community Schools, said. “Their efforts in supporting our communitywide needs assessment are playing an important part in the planning process.”
“Marian University was founded more than 75 years ago as a teacher's college, and we continue producing to this day some of the state's best teachers,” Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener said. “Through our Academy for Teaching and Learning Leadership, we are also producing some of the best principals and administrators in Indiana. I want to personally thank Duke Energy Indiana for having the confidence in Marian University to be its partner in these initiatives. We look forward to working with the excellent educators who are serving in Vincennes, Sheridan, and Clark County.”
About Marian University Indianapolis
Marian University (www.marian.edu), founded in Indianapolis in 1937, is the only Catholic liberal arts university in central Indiana. It serves a student body of nearly 3,000 through dedication to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. Marian University is one of Indiana’s 31 independent colleges and one of 244 Catholic colleges and universities nationwide.
Since 2001, Marian University has been led by President Daniel J. Elsener, whose vision and leadership are transforming the university. In 2013, Marian University opened the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences, home to its College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marian University has amassed 27 national championships in cycling and in 2012 won the NAIA national championship in football.
Source: Marian University Indianapolis