Teacher Education Department awarded grants

43 prospective teachers awarded prestigious scholarship

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 25^th, 2020

The California State University (CSU) received funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation for the CSU Residency Year Service Scholarship Program. This prestigious scholarship program is particularly important for CSU candidates as the system produces half of California’s new teachers, averaging over 7,500 candidates annually. These candidates are highly diverse, with nearly one-third identifying as Hispanic/Latinx and more than two-thirds receiving Pell grants.

The Teacher Residency Scholarship Program was established for CSU students enrolled in teacher preparation programs that meet the standard of quality set by the New Generation of Educators Initiative.

The scholarship is available to those committed to teaching in a high-need school for two years. The focus for recipient selection was on teaching English learners, earning a bilingual credential, teaching in urban or high-need schools, or supporting students with special needs. The scholarship recognizes candidates in these groups who demonstrate a financial need and have attributes of merit, including excellent academic performance, significant personal achievements and community service.

Over 290 scholarships averaging $10,000 have already been distributed to teacher candidates at the following campuses: California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), CSU Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Fullerton, Humboldt State, Cal State LA, Cal State Long Beach, CSU Monterey Bay, CSUN, Sacramento State, San José State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Stanislaus State.

At CSUB, 43 prospective teachers with demonstrated need were awarded the prestigious scholarship. Across the CSU, these scholarships totaled more than $2.5 million.

“We are extremely grateful to the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation for providing financial support to 43 of our teacher residents,” said Dr. Kristina LaGue, professor and department chair of Teacher Education at CSUB. “This funding has been transformational; it has afforded our residents the ability to complete approximately 1,000 hours of K-12 co-teaching apprenticeship while

minimizing their financial stress and burden. This support is one critical strategy for increasing teacher recruitment and retention and, ultimately, eliminating the shortage of qualified teachers in the Central Valley.”

The CSU's Teacher and Educator Preparation programs prepare on average over 7,500 candidates annually—accounting for more of California's pre-school through grade 12 teachers than all other institutions combined. Nearly 8% of the nation's teachers graduate from the CSU.

“This significant scholarship makes a huge impact in the lives of aspiring teachers," said Marquita Grenot-Scheyer, assistant vice chancellor for Educator Preparation at the CSU Chancellor's Office. “The financial assistance enables these future teachers to focus on developing their in-classroom expertise and enables them to meet the standard of quality set by the New Generation of Educators Initiative."