Five senior elementary education majors from Arkansas Tech University have been selected to participate in student scholar residency pilot programs within two local school districts during the 2023-24 academic year.
Balee Amerson and Haven Powell will serve paid, year-long residencies in their hometown at Dardanelle Intermediate School.
Diana Flores of Danville, Jessica Martinez of Russellville and Lauren Underwood of Cabot will serve paid, year-long residencies in the Russellville School District. Flores will be at Crawford Elementary School, while Martinez was assigned to Dwight Elementary School and Underwood will engage with students and teachers at Oakland Heights Elementary School.
Underwood said she pursued the student scholar residency program because it would provide her with an enhanced foundation for a career in education.
“I wanted to be among the first people to be in this pilot program because I wanted to help set the standards high for the next group that comes in and to be a role model for all the kids in the school,” said Underwood. “I think it will make my transition from teacher candidate to teacher so smooth. I’ll be more confident when I go into my career. I think it’s so important to have good educators. I’ve learned so much through my classes, and now that I have this opportunity, it motivates me to give my whole heart to teaching. I’m thankful that Arkansas Tech gave me this opportunity.”
ATU entered into memorandums of understanding with the Dardanelle School District and the Russellville School District to establish the student scholar residency programs.
Funding assistance for the program was provided by a Forward Arkansas grant obtained by ATU.
“This program supports multiple goals within the ATU 2025 Strategic Plan and expands our college’s outreach efforts with our community partners,” said Dr. Tim Carter, interim dean of the ATU College of Education and Health. “We believe this program will enhance the preparation of our teacher candidates as they seek to become outstanding full-time classroom instructors.”
Visit www.atu.edu/ceh to learn more about the ATU College of Education and Health.
