BAMBERG COUNTY, S.C. — The United State Department of Education awarded Voorhees University a $26.7 million grant. The money will be used through the Voorhees Center for Educator Preparation and Innovation to recruit, retain and reward educators.
Fairfield County School District and Georgetown County School District will be the main focus for this grant.
Voorhees University Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Gwenda Greene says this grant is going to help those with barriers.
"This grant is simply a way to grow,” said Greene. “Its a way to elevate, and there are no barriers for those who really wish to do that."
Voorhees University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Damara Hightower Mitchell says the money will also be used to boost student achievement with efforts to help student on the path to become educators.
"There are a number of people who have raised their hands to become educators but there are barriers to allowing them to actually enter South Carolina classrooms,” said Hightower Mitchell. “And so we exist to remove some of those barriers. Sometimes, it's finances and people not being able to stop working to go back to school to gain that certification."
During recent teacher shortages in South Carolina, Mitchell says they are aiming to minimize openings in schools.
"Honestly, we really want to get to the heart of why we have some of the shortages,” said Hightower Mitchell. “And address some of those things head on."