Contact: Maridith Geuder
A distance learning program that Mississippi State developed to help increase the number of elementary school teachers is earning international recognition.
The university's Division of Continuing Education is receiving a 2004 Exemplary Programming Award from the Learning Resources Network for its efforts to address the state's critical shortage of minority classroom leaders.
The Wisconsin-based education support organization, which includes more than 4,000 members in some 16 countries, selected MSU's entry from more than 125 nominations from four countries. LERN officials said the annual honor recognizes originality, innovation and the potential to serve as role models for other programs.
"This is an extremely competitive process and this recognition reflects the fact that an innovative and challenging learning experience can take place in a non-traditional format," said Laura A. Crittenden, the MSU division's distance education manager.
Begun in 2000 as a pilot project with Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, the MSU program offers courses from the curriculum and instruction department that lead to bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education. To date, more than 50 students have enrolled.
Last year, the effort was expanded to East Central Community College in Decatur and Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead.
"We've been fortunate to receive funding from both the BellSouth and Tri-State Educational foundations to extend the original program and broaden learning opportunities to East Central Mississippi," Crittenden said.
Added Mindy Wolfe, the division's coordinator of distance education: "Over the long term, this program seeks to help address a teacher shortage in the North and East Central regions of the state and put into place a mentoring program that can encourage future candidates."
For more information, contact Wolfe at (662) 325-8545 or mwolfe@ce.msstate.edu, or visit http://www.distance.msstate.edu/.