Pionero Scholars Program
Creating a local pipeline of teacher candidates who plan to teach in the Nashville area community.
The Pionero Scholars Program is a scholarship and outreach program at Lipscomb that seeks to increase the number of local students who enroll at Lipscomb, with the long-term goal of creating a local pipeline of students returning to teach in their home communities.
In the News!
Recruiting teachers in general must become a focus for Colleges of Education – enrollment in teacher preparation programs is at its lowest point in 45 years. (1) Each year Metro Nashville begins the school year with over 100 empty classrooms as there is a mismatch between teachers graduating with degrees and the needs of the district. Beyond that, the diversity of our teaching population is an important topic nationwide – low-income students, first generation students, students of color, male students, and English Language Learners need role models in their schools who understand where they come from and the challenges they are overcoming.
In Metro Nashville Public Schools, only 20% of teachers in 2015-2016 were male. (2) In terms of racial & ethnic diversity nationwide, while the numbers have steadily improved, nationwide teachers of color only make up 17% of the workforce. Meanwhile, the population of students of color is growing even faster – minority students now account for more than half of all public school students. (2) Also, almost one in four (12 million) schoolchildren ages 5 to 17 speak a language other than English at home, according to an analysis of census figures. (3) In Nashville, we are home to a vibrant and rapidly growing immigrant and refugee population, with sizeable communities of Kurdish, Egyptian, Mexican, Central American, Somali, Sudanese, Burmese, Thai, Laotian, and other nationalities from around the world. There are over 24,000 English Language Learners in Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the most diverse high school in the state of Tennessee, Overton High School, boasts over 60 languages spoken. (4)
Research has demonstrated that as a teacher population in a school becomes more diverse, all students in the school show positive gains in test scores, attention, retention, and college persistence. (Pitts, 2007). We believe that local students who grew up in Nashville have a unique perspective on working in communities with so much religious, ethnic, nationality, income, and linguistic diversity. We believe that local students, regardless of their own background, will ready to hit the ground running as teachers, confident in the context and strengths of their community.
Sources:
- NEA Today March 2016
- IncluCivics Report by Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission
- Shanker Institute Report
- The Tennessean
Meet your Recruiter
Pionero holds a special place in my heart, not only as the Scholars Recruiter, but as a Pionero Alumni. When I was a student here, Pionero helped me in ways I will always be grateful for. After graduating from Lipscomb, I went on to teach for 3 years in MNPS, so I have an educational and professional background that helps me be a resource for future students. Pionero opened the door to my educational experience and teaching experience as a whole. This scholarship is more than just financial aid, it is a community of students and staff who are dedicated to bringing resources and experiences into the classroom. As a first generation student myself, I know it can get stressful navigating through college. I am beyond excited to extend my helping hand to future generations of Pioneros - whether that be helping you submit your college application to helping you draft your essay or filling out FAFSA or even finding your classes. Never be embarrassed to ask for my help. My job is made for you, so use me as a resource whenever possible. Thank you for letting me be a part of your college experience! I am so thrilled to work alongside you!
In appreciation,
Alondra Piña
Thank you for your interest in Pionero Scholars! This initiative by Lipscomb began in the fall of 2015, with the support of a local foundation. Our long-term goal is to create a “grow -your-own” pipeline and graduate more local teachers returning to teach in Metro Nashville Public Schools. We believe that the best way to recruit future teachers is to create a local pipeline of students who have grown up in Nashville and understand our local context.
That’s because Nashville is a unique place! We are a gorgeous melting pot of diversity with large student populations from African-American, Latino, Egyptian, and Somali backgrounds as well as many other immigrant and refugee communities. In the Pionero Scholars Program, we want to increase the number of our students who are local and grew up with this amazing diversity. As a Cuban-American, I deeply believe in the importance of having adults in schools who understand the variety of student cultures, religions, and languages and help every student feel they have the ability to be successful. I had the fortune to engage in activities and camps as a teenager that helped me develop my own sense of Latinidad, but there were few mentors for me in my formalized education. We believe that local students will enter buildings ready for the work and with a deep understanding of the unique strengths of Nashvillians as well as the barriers students face.
At Pionero, we are a mini family and a community. We eat together, study together, and grow together. We explore Nashville, go canoeing, and challenge ourselves to grow intellectually. We want our students to be successful both in college, as individual human beings, and in their careers in the future. There are many extra supports for Pionero students - each Pionero receives a faculty or staff mentor in their first two years, and a current teacher mentor in their second two years. Pioneros also have mentoring opportunities with older Pioneros and upperclassmen. As your Program Director, I am here for any and every question you might have. Please don’t hesitate to ask me - there is no stupid question!
If you are an interested student or community member, please reach out! I look forward to meeting you.
Gracias,
Laura Delgado
Program Director
El Programa de Pionero Scholars
Lipscomb ofrece beca para estudiantes de Nashville interesados en hacerse maestro.
Nosotros creemos que los maestros que comparten una cultura y un lenguaje con sus estudiantes tienen un papel importante en las escuelas de nuestra comunidad. En 2015, 22% de los estudiantes en Nashville eran hispanos, pero sólo 1.4% de los maestros se identificaban como hispanos.
Por el programa de Pionero Scholars, la Universidad de Lipscomb ofrece una beca a recién graduados de escuelas públicas en Nashville que tienen interés en hacerse maestros. Con esta beca, Lipscomb espera a lo largo plazo ayudar a cerrar esta brecha entre estudiantes y maestros que comparten su cultura.
Los estudiantes que son seleccionados a ser Pionero Scholars recibirán una beca anual entre $2,000 y $10,000 basado en la necesidad del estudiante. Durante la Universidad, recibirán apoyo especial con sus estudios y desarrollo profesional y la atención especial de un mentor profesional. El apoyo seguirá durante su primer año en su carrera como maestro en las escuelas locales. Para mantener la beca, tienen que mantener buenas notas y declarar una especialización en Educación.
Lipscomb es una pequeña universidad cristiana. Hay programas y apoyo especialmente para estudiantes hispanos y estudiantes que son los primeros en su familiar asistir a al universidad. El Colegio de Educación de Lipscomb es de alta calidad. Es uno de sólo cuatro colegios en toda la nación quienes recibieron la más alta calificación de calidad del Consejo Nacional de Calidad de Maestros. El programa de educación para la preparación de maestros para grados 7°-12° fue nombrado el mejor programa de los Estados Unidos. El estado de Tennessee ha reconocido a Lipscomb varias veces por producir maestros de alta calidad.
Lipscomb ofrece varios caminos para estudiantes que quieren hacerse maestros – los estudiantes seleccionan la licencia que quieren entre:
- Pre Kínder – 3
- Kínder - 5°
- 6° – 8°
- 6° – 12°
- K – 12° (para educación especial, música, arte, educación física, etc.)
También pueden seleccionar una especialización como arte, biología, química, inglés, lengua extranjera, historia, matemáticas, música, física, teatro.
Requisitos de la beca
- Haber graduado de una escuela pública en Nashville (condado de Davidson)
- Ser ciudadano estadounidense, residente permanente, con DACA u otro autorización para trabajo
- Tener interés en el área de Educación para su carrera
- Si ha tomado el ACT, haber sacado un nota de 21+, o si no lo ha tomado, o no sacó un 21, tomar un examen Praxis (que es requisito para entrar en el Colegio de Educación); el examen es gratis, por favor contacte al directora para más información
¿Qué tiene que hacer un estudiante para aplicar?
- Haber entregado su aplicación para admisión a Lipscomb University
- Si es ciudadano, haber entregado su FAFSA para ayuda financiera federal
- Seguir los pasos listados acá en la página web en la sección Apply
¿Con quién podemos hablar si tenemos preguntas?
Se puede llamar a Laura Delgado, Directora del Programa, al 615-966-5274 (se habla español). O pida que su hijo avisa a Laura que tienen preguntas y se puede organizar una visita o una llamada cuando sea mejor para ustedes.
Gracias!
