Hannibal-LaGrange University receives $70,000 award to support teacher recruitment, retention efforts

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) recently was awarded a $70,000 grant through the Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) Awards program.

This grant, funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will support HLGU’s ongoing efforts to recruit and retain future educators, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas of Missouri.

The award will allow HLGU to implement innovative strategies to increase the number of teacher candidates in its Education Preparation Program and strengthen the support systems for current candidates. These initiatives will directly impact teacher shortages in rural northeast Missouri by focusing on recruiting students from local high schools and community colleges while supporting current teacher candidates during their critical student teaching semester.

Key activities supported by the DEWEY grant are:

• Providing tuition assistance to 10 HLGU teacher candidates during their student teaching semester, alleviating financial burdens and enabling them to focus on their educational experience.
• Hosting recruitment events aimed at high school juniors and seniors interested in the teaching profession.
• Offering classroom observation opportunities to Hannibal Career and Technical Center and area community colleges.
• Enhancing HLGU’s Adventure University, a full-day STEAAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Athletics and Math) event, which provides hands-on teaching opportunities for current teacher candidates while engaging local elementary students.
• Creating a targeted social media campaign to promote HLGU’s education program and attract prospective teacher candidates, particularly from rural areas.

“We are thrilled to receive the DEWEY Award and are excited about the opportunities this funding provides to support the future of education in our region,” Melanie Smith, project lead at HLGU and chair of the Education Division, said in a press release. “This grant will enable us to make a significant impact on both the recruitment and retention of teacher candidates, particularly in areas where they are needed most.”