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July 2024
Educator Workforce and Development Center
July Updates
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The Minnesota Department of Education announced that 10 regional entities were awarded a total of $8 million in Statewide Teacher Mentoring Program grants to be used to support regional induction and mentoring approaches to support new special education teachers and new teachers in other teacher shortage areas, especially educators of color and Indigenous leaders, mentors and teachers.
Grantees include:
- Lakes Country Service Cooperative
- Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota
- Minnesota Zej Zog
- Regents of the University of Minnesota
- Resource Training and Solutions Cooperative
- Sourcewell Service Cooperative
- South Central Service Cooperative
- Southwest West Central Service Cooperative
- UpLIFT Movement
- Zumbro Education District
Grantee induction support to districts and charters may include:
- Providing seminars, workshops and forums for mentors and new teachers
- Facilitating mentor and leader training
- Supporting on-the-ground coaching
- Guiding the development of an induction vision, mission and program goals
- Supporting new teacher orientation and onboarding
- Providing opportunities for regional networking, affinity groups and communities of practice
- Assessing and adjusting program effectiveness
- Distributing mentor stipends
“Positive mentorship can be the difference between a fulfilling career and burnout,” said Governor Walz. “Teachers are supporting, mentoring, and caring for our kids every day. If we are to fulfill our mission of creating the best state in the country for children, we must take care of our teachers. These grants are a step forward in filling gaps and providing necessary resources in a demanding profession.”
“Teaching is a demanding profession, and we want to give new teachers the best start to their career. Minnesota teachers are the best of the best, and we are excited to connect Minnesota’s next generation of teachers with some of the outstanding educators working in the field today,” said Commissioner Willie Jett. “We look forward to the work these organizations will do to prepare teachers to have successful and meaningful careers and impact the lives of their students from day one.”
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The application is now open for the Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship, a pilot program providing postsecondary financial assistance to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are preparing to become teachers.
To receive an award, students must belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the state’s teacher workforce, demonstrate financial need and must be enrolled in either a Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved program seeking initial licensure or in a two-year program specifically designed to prepare early childhood educators.
Full-time students can receive up to $10,000 annually. Awards for students enrolled less than full-time are prorated on a per-credit basis. Applicants selected to receive an award are expected to serve as a full-time teacher in Minnesota after completing their program.
The Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship pilot program was established by the 2021 Minnesota Legislature and has awarded over $2.9 million to 380 future Minnesota teachers over the past two years. The pilot program was extended and received a one-time appropriation of $1 million for the 2024–25 academic year.
Students can find more information and apply for the scholarship on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act application.
The priority application deadline is August 2, 2024. Questions about the program can be directed to state program administrator Diamee Xiong Yang.
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