A new partnership that began this fall between Troy University, Troy City Schools and the city of Troy is providing scholarship funding and classroom experience for TROY education students while also providing additional help in the school system’s classrooms. 

Funding from the City of Troy will establish the Trojans Teaching Trojans Scholarship, which will assist qualified students who are pursuing a degree in education. Scholarship recipients will be identified and selected solely by the College of Education Selection Committee. Recipients will be required to serve in the Troy City School System each Monday and Friday for 12 weeks during the semester, providing instructional support. 

The $5,000 scholarships are awarded each semester and are for one semester only. However, recipients may be selected by the Selection Committee for continued scholarships from the Trojans Teaching Trojans Scholarship Fund. Four to eight students will be identified to participate in the program each semester. 

“We face a teacher shortage across this nation, and when you have a university like TROY that has such a fine education program, anything we can do to keep these young teachers here, in this community, is very important,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves. “Not only is it important to keep them here, but it is important that they can get into the classroom early and gain that experience of helping existing teachers and the students. I believe this will help the Troy City Schools students, the TROY students who want to be teachers and the current Troy City Schools faculty. I think it is a win-win-win for everybody and that’s why we feel like it is such a great use of resources.”

Cynthia Thomas, Superintendent of Troy City Schools, said the program provides valuable hands-on experience for TROY students and hopes it will generate teachers who want to stay in system following graduation.

“These students will actually gain hands-on experience in our classrooms, so they are gaining that invaluable experience and not just learning about being a teacher in the classroom,” Thomas said. “I think it is a win-win for all involved because these students will gain that experience working alongside our teachers and it will benefit the system’s students because of the extra help they will be provided with in the classroom.”

Dr. Joe Johnson, Chair of the Department of Teacher Education, said the program offers many advantages, including possible future intern and employment opportunities for TROY students. Teacher candidates selected to participate in the program for three consecutive semesters may be considered for a full-time position with Troy City Schools following graduation.

“Number one, it helps with the finances for the TROY education major,” Dr. Johnson said. “Number two, it gives them real-world, practical experience working with students before they get into their full-time career. And, number three, it helps Troy City Schools because they now have more boots on the ground to offer support. They will start with one semester and, if they have a very good experience, they can go back and get more scholarship support to stay with Troy City Schools for a second semester and could also possibly intern with Troy City Schools in the future.”

Five students participated in the program this fall and will continue in the program in the spring semester.

“All five will continue in the spring in their same placements with the same teachers,” Dr. Johnson said. “All spoke very highly of their experience this semester.”