Springfield College Awarded Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Expansion Grant

In the photo above is the initial cohort for the "S-Cubed" Program.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield College was awarded an $867,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to fund a strategic partnership with Springfield Public Schools (SPS) to increase the number of teachers who are fully prepared and dedicated to meeting the challenges faced in high-need Level 3 and 4 SPS schools.  

The S3 (“S-Cubed”) program is designed to increase the pool of effective teachers in the hard-to-staff subject and specialty areas of mathematics and moderate disabilities (special education).  The S3 program will serve a cohort of 25 SPS teachers who already hold their preliminary license.  Teachers selected for the cohort will complete the Springfield College approved initial licensure program to become fully certified.  Grant funds will cover the cost of tuition for 24 of the graduate credits needed to complete the state licensure program. Springfield College will offer the balance of the coursework required for the master’s degree at a special rate of tuition.  

This innovative program includes the delivery of coursework that enables the cohort members to immediately put their learning into practice. S3 includes a value-added support system that provides each teacher with extensive, robust on-site coaching.  Springfield College Education Department faculty members will deliver coursework on-site in the schools, and provide on-site coaching to cohort members.

“I am excited about being involved in this project because it enables Springfield College to strengthen its longstanding partnership with Springfield Public Schools to create a model program that has the potential to produce effective mathematics and special education teachers who are committed to, and successful at, increasing student learning and academic achievement in the district for years to come,” said Linda Davis-Delano, Springfield College’s director of educator preparation, when describing the program. 

In addition to fostering increased student learning in these priority fields, S3 incorporates elements of the district’s “Springfield Effective Educator Development System” or SEEDS.  This includes meeting the needs of all students, engaging families and communities, and developing professional learning communities, where teachers work together to help students achieve.

“Both organizations, Springfield College and Springfield Public Schools, are deeply committed to the development and retention of highly effective, fully licensed teachers in high priority content areas and recognize the potential of the S3 Program innovative delivery model to support this undertaking,” said Davis-Delano.

For more information, contact Linda Davis-Delano at (413) 748-3146.