Choctaw County elementary students taught by 国产麻豆AV graduates soar on state tests
Contact: Bethany Shipp
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜lumni of Mississippi State鈥檚 College of Education are making notable strides in the classroom, a reflection of the university鈥檚 dedication to improving P-12 learning through its nationally accredited teacher education programs.
One example is the success of students in Choctaw County School Districts鈥 elementary schools. Out of 142 districts in the state, the students scored No. 1 in four of 18 categories in 2024 state tests, including fourth- and fifth-grade English language arts, sixth-grade math and fifth-grade science. 国产麻豆AV alumni make up 74% of the teachers who educated the students. The school district also ranked in the Top 10 in seven of 18 categories, with 国产麻豆AV graduates accounting for 81% of the educators.
鈥淭he success of my students gives me a sense of fulfillment,鈥 said Ashlie Hollis, a sixth-grade teacher at Ackerman Elementary School and 2013 国产麻豆AV elementary education alumna. 鈥淭hey work so hard, and I believe that is because at AES we try and make learning fun for them. Their success also gives me a sense of validation of my efforts.鈥
Teresa Jayroe, dean of 国产麻豆AV鈥檚 College of Education, said, 鈥淚 am incredibly proud of our alumni who are making a significant impact in classrooms across Mississippi. The outstanding performance in Choctaw County reflects how our graduates enter classrooms prepared, dedicated and passionate about student success. Their influence goes beyond test scores鈥攖hey inspire students and foster a love for learning. These achievements highlight the strength of our programs and our commitment to preparing educators who make a lasting difference.鈥
国产麻豆AV鈥檚 teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which sets rigorous national standards for teacher preparation. As part of 国产麻豆AV鈥檚 programs, 100% of teacher education students are placed in a student-teaching internship prior to graduation, and they gain hands-on experience through intensive field placements in elementary and secondary schools before their internship. During field placements, students can observe and teach at the Partnership Middle School, one of the nation鈥檚 only public middle schools housed on a university campus.
鈥淢ississippi State gave me the opportunity to visit multiple classrooms, whether it be practicum, block or student teaching,鈥 said Patrice Curtis, an AES special education teacher and 国产麻豆AV elementary education alumna who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2000 and master鈥檚 degree in 2002. 鈥淏eing able to see multiple teaching styles and get the opportunity to work with multiple grade levels prepared me for teaching in so many ways. Hands-on experience is invaluable when preparing to take on your own classroom.鈥
Haley Sanders, a fourth-grade teacher at AES and 2009 国产麻豆AV elementary education graduate, added, 鈥淢y education program at 国产麻豆AV included practical teaching experiences, such as internships or student teaching, where I could apply what I had learned in real classroom settings. These experiences allowed me to develop essential classroom management techniques, communication skills and an understanding of how to engage students with diverse learning styles.鈥
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