In a bold move to enhance the quality of education in under-resourced schools, Prairie View A&M University is launching pantherTERM, the Panther Teacher Education Residency Model. This innovative program aims not only to improve the educational landscape but also to diversify the teaching workforce, addressing a pressing need in classrooms across the nation.
Transformative Funding
Funded by a generous $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program, pantherTERM is designed to expand and elevate PVAMU’s existing teacher residency offerings. The initiative will prepare 100 aspiring educators—80 undergraduate and 20 graduate students—to enter classrooms that are in dire need of skilled teachers. There will be a special focus on schools serving underserved communities.
Dr. Britine Perkins, an assistant professor in PVAMU’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, was instrumental in securing the pivotal funding alongside Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson from Texas A&M University. Their collaborative efforts highlight the program’s dual goals of increasing teacher diversity and addressing the significant teacher shortages faced by many school districts.
“We’re excited; the Hawkins grant is the second award in as many years,” said Dr. Perkins. “Being able to address one of my passion areas of removing major barriers to increasing the teacher pipeline, such as finances, makes this so meaningful for me.”
A Comprehensive Approach
The pantherTERM program will integrate rigorous classroom training with practical, hands-on teaching experiences, ensuring that participants develop the necessary skills to thrive in educational environments. The program will emphasize mentorship and the implementation of evidence-based practices. It aims to produce a new generation of educators who are not only prepared but inspired to make a lasting impact on their students’ lives.
“WRGCOE’s commitment to teamwork and innovation catapults them as the go-to preparation program for teacher residencies in Texas,” Dr. Hill-Jackson noted. “I am a firm believer that cross-institution collaboration works.”
Historically, HBCUs like PVAMU play a crucial role in preparing Black educators, accounting for nearly 50% of all Black teachers in the United States. Through pantherTERM, PVAMU is reaffirming its dedication to this legacy while aiming to meet the urgent demand for qualified educators in schools that need them most.