Partnerships with Memphis-Shelby County Schools

The River City Partnership aims to demonstrate the College of Education's commitment to serve the Memphis community. We have developed programs in conjunction with Memphis-Shelby County Schools to help serve current MSCS employees seeking to build content knowledge

Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in Early Childhood Education (Pre-K-3) 

The goal of this partnership effort is to provide a specialized program track that leads to the completion of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree and Licensure in Early Childhood Education (Grades Pre-K-3) for a cohort of paraprofessionals currently employed by MSCS. This effort will support the development of competencies and skills related to the educational development of children from Pre-K through 3rd grade.

Memphis Educators for Mathematical Excellence - (ME)²

The Memphis Educators for Mathematical Excellence (ME)² graduate certificate program was a strategically sequenced course of study for teachers. The program which ran from 2018-2021 was designed to deepen mathematical content knowledge through the explicit study of mathematics and pedagogical content knowledge. (ME)² teachers took intensive in-person courses as a cohort to strengthen and enhance the implementation of conceptually-based mathematics, resulting in more effective classroom teaching and increased student learning. Upon earning the graduate certificate, teachers were able to continue the course of study to earn a Master of Science degree.

(ME)² Cohort Testimonials

"This program will be beneficial to any elementary teacher that teaches math or to any educator who leads professional development regarding math. Although gaining a better understanding of Eureka Math^TM is a bonus, I have truly gained a better understanding of math in general and could apply the concepts I've learned to any curriculum. I have been taught math differently than I was ever taught and feel equipped to teach math to twenty-first century learners. I have also been able to collaborate with cohorts who teach all grades K-5. Thus, I have been able to piece together what math truly looks like across a child's entire elementary career."
- Rebekah E., 5th Grade Teacher

"I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this program. Being from Memphis, I haven't really seen [another] partnership that has been intentional about supporting teachers in curriculum changes. I think this program will encourage new teachers to teach in SCS rather than going elsewhere."
- Lauren H., 2nd Grade Teacher