North Carolina Central University’s School of Education has been awarded $3.7 million to expand diversity among school administrators.
The funds are provided by the Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance (CCRESA) to bolster the university’s efforts in producing a diverse pool of Master of School Administration graduates.
“The School of Education is excited to receive this grant to develop proficient leaders who will enhance student success in schools with a great need for diverse leaders,” said Audrey W. Beard, Ed.D., NCCU School of Education dean. “The funding will help us enhance the hands-on skills and offerings that we provide educators to become effective leaders for urban and rural high-need schools in North Carolina.”
NCCU is part of CCRESA, a non-profit coalition supporting opportunities for collaboration, professional growth and educational excellence among school systems and their stakeholders in the central region of the state.
The four-year grant to NCCU’s School of Education will provide funding to implement the Central Carolina Principal Preparation Program. This initiative will focus on developing diverse individuals as school principals to enrich teaching and learning in North Carolina’s underserved communities. The assistance will be provided through face-to-face and online instruction using research-based content and embedded assessments. During the second year of study, students will complete a 10-month internship.
NCCU consistently provides students with quality education that has a tremendous impact on the community.
“The NCCU School of Education is actively training high-quality primary and secondary educators and administrators who instruct children in their formative years in school districts throughout North Carolina,” said Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D. “Through the grant provided by the Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance, we are able to expand our reach in supporting the school’s overall framework of ‘Preparing Educators for Diverse Cultural Contexts.’”
The National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) reports 22.2% of public school principal positions were held by people of color, while 77.8% of principal positions were held by white, non-Hispanic people.
NTPS also reports a greater representation of African American principals, at 19.6%, and Hispanic/Latinx principals, at 12.9%, in urban areas when compared with non-urban areas. Rural schools have the least representation of African American principals, 5%, and Hispanic/Latinx principals, 2.9%.
“I am very excited about the partnership with NC Central University, which focuses on preparing principals to serve schools in the CCRESA districts,” said Edward Croom, Ed.D., CCRESA executive director. “Research shows that a well-trained principal is a key ingredient for a successful school. This grant will play a vital role in developing effective leaders for our schools.”
Approximately 25% of Durham Public Schools principals have earned an MSA degree from NCCU.
The School of Education will provide a curriculum that develops responsive school leaders in marginalized communities and focuses on high academic achievement for students. After earning a degree, graduates will receive continued support for an additional two years through personalized, targeted coaching based on individual needs and North Carolina School Executive Standards.
The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, which uses a voluntary peer-review process to conduct comprehensive evaluations of universities that prepare teachers and other professional school personnel. All programs are fully accredited by their respective bodies.
