DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 142
July 27, 2007
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
|
The Virginia
Department of Education is pleased to announce the continuation of the Virginia
Middle School Teacher Corps. This
program is designed to reinforce the quality of mathematics instruction in
middle schools and help ensure that students receive a solid foundation in
mathematics as they prepare to enter high school. This initiative addresses middle school
mathematics--one of the top ten areas of critical teacher shortage in 20072008.
The Teacher
Corps will provide the structure and incentives to place up to 80 qualified
mathematics teachers in middle schools that have been designated as at risk in
mathematics by virtue of being either accredited with warning in mathematics
or not meeting the Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) in mathematics
performance as required for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. A
school eligible to participate in the Middle School Teacher Corps may have the
opportunity to participate in the initiative for three years pending available
funding.
Teachers
selected as members of the Teacher Corps will be individuals who have
demonstrated success in teaching mathematics in challenging environments and who
are willing to teach sixth-, seventh-, or eighth-grade mathematics. While their top priority will be teaching,
they also may work with school administrators and faculty to help less experienced
teachers. Participating middle schools
will be eligible for incentive funds from the Department of Education to
provide a salary differential to assist in hiring a member of the Virginia
Middle School Teacher Corps.
Members of
the Teacher Corps are eligible for up to a $10,000 salary differential from the
participating school division.
Additional information about the program and an application to
participate as a teacher in the Teacher Corps is available at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/OCP/teachercorps.html.
If you have
questions about the Virginia Middle School Teacher Corps, please contact
Jennifer Stuart, teacher education specialist, Division of Teacher Education
and Licensure, at (804) 225-2047 or e-mail: Jennifer.Stuart@doe.virginia.gov.
BKCJr/JS/atb