MSU, Grand Rapids schools partner for new teacher prep pipeline

October 7, 2024

Michigan State University and Grand Rapids Public Schools, or GRPS, will launch the inaugural Community Teachers cohort in October 2024. The initiative will help future educators start their careers sooner and will culminate in full-time teaching job offers in a GRPS K-12 school upon program completion.

e image features a group of individuals gathered together for a group photo. They are standing in front of a backdrop displaying the logos of Michigan State University (MSU) College of Education and Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS). The group includes both adults and students, with everyone smiling and posing for the camera. The adults appear to include faculty, staff, and school administrators, while the students represent the participants of the inaugural Community Teachers cohort program launching in October 2024. The initiative aims to accelerate the career paths of future educators, providing them with opportunities to gain experience and ultimately secure full-time teaching positions within the GRPS K-12 school system. The backdrop and surrounding setting suggest the photo was taken in a library or academic environment.
MSU and GRPS leaders pose with students in the MSU/Grand Rapids Community Teachers cohort. Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Fifteen students are in the pilot cohort. They can complete the program — and become a teacher — at no cost to them thanks to a gift from a private donor.

“We want to reach high schoolers who care about high-quality teaching and have a commitment to those in the community in which they live,” said Gail Richmond, director of MSU’s Teacher Preparation Program and one of the leaders of the Community Teachers initiative. “This program is intended to reduce the financial barriers to getting a teaching degree and certification.” 

The cohort’s high school seniors throughout GRPS are dual enrolled at MSU, taking entry-level courses. Upon high school graduation, the 15 students can attend MSU for four years or enroll in Grand Rapids Community College and then transfer to MSU. While in MSU’s Teacher Preparation Program, participants will intern in GRPS.  

“As educators, we strive to cultivate the seeds of knowledge within our community,” said Leadriane Roby, superintendent of schools for GRPS. “This program serves as the fertile ground, nurturing aspiring teachers from Grand Rapids, shaping them into the future stewards of education for Grand Rapids Public Schools. Together, we’re not just growing teachers, we’re nurturing the roots of our community’s educational legacy.” 

Supporting future stewards

The GRPS partnership is, ideally, just the beginning of Community Teachers, according to MSU leaders.  

“This inaugural GRPS cohort is serving as a pilot model for planned and hoped-for collaborations across Michigan,” said Kimberly Arsenault, MSU associate professor and Grand Rapids-area program director for the Community Teachers initiative. 

The image shows a scenic view of Erickson Hall with a clear blue sky overhead. The building is a multi-story structure with a mix of red brick and glass windows, featuring a green dome-shaped roof on a lower section. Surrounding the building are trees in bloom, adding lush greenery and a sense of spring to the scene. A pathway in the foreground leads toward the building, with a few people walking along it. The atmosphere feels calm and peaceful, with open spaces and nature blending with the campus architecture.
The Teacher Preparation Program is housed at Erickson Hall on MSU’s campus.

She noted that several other school districts around the Grand Rapids area are invested in the initiative and are working through initial steps to formalize establishing cohorts in those districts.  

“This important initiative can continue, in GRPS and beyond, through continued partnerships and philanthropic support,” Arsenault added.   

The collaboration aligns with complementary MSU and statewide initiatives to address teacher recruitment challenges. For example, MSU’s Teacher Preparation Program moved from a five- to a four-year model, saving students more than $16,000 in tuition and preparing teachers faster. The Michigan Future Educator Stipend, offered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, also supports students pursuing teaching careers. 

GRPS students in the pilot cohort have already started work in MSU classes and, even though they are still early into the programming, they can see results and have hope for the future.  

“TE 101 [an introductory course on teacher education] taught me in-depth societal history I was unaware of,” said GRPS student Barrett Vernon. “More people should be taking advantage of the Community Teachers opportunity.”