Westminster’s Education Department Receives DEWEY Award for Second Year in a Row

For the second year in a row, Westminster is among only 15 colleges and universities statewide to receive a $70,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) Award was recently distributed to qualified applicants who are actively working to increase the teacher workforce in Missouri. DEWEY recipients also have a proven record of strong retention in their teacher-preparation programs.

Dr. Sarah Hairston, education department chair, says Westminster’s award will be carefully divided into three categories.

“After solicitation from department members, we determined this money will go toward community engagement and advocacy, investing in future educators, and the Grow Your Own initiative, which was the first phase of this award,” she explains.

Grow Your Own is a grant Westminster began receiving in 2021 to help students with expenses related to student teaching. Through the program, students are also provided jobs in the local schools following community-based job training.

Hairston says the portion of DEWEY funding designated for Grow Your Own participants will offset the high startup costs associated with launching teaching careers.

“Everything from the tests student teachers have to take ― like fingerprinting and background checks ― to the cost of fuel to drive to and from schools in rural towns, is costly for those starting out,” Hairston explains. “With this award, we can give additional financial support to those individuals.”

Currently, more than 55 students are involved in Westminster’s education program. Many plan to teach in small, rural schools throughout the mid-Missouri area which have strong relationships with Westminster College.

DEWEY funding will help bring students and education faculty members from the College face to face with those in the local community through special events and outreach.

“We understand that our local community needs great Day One-ready educators, and that pipeline has to be filled continually,” Hairston reflects. “Our department feels really strongly about our connections with the community at large, so expanding our presence, through this funding, by providing teaching services or mentorship, or just going to them to talk about Westminster, is really, really important.”

For more information on Westminster’s education department, please contact [email protected].