Teacher Education Alliance Project (TEA)
The TEA project was established in the spring of 2009 to create a strong collaborative partnership between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), Baptist Bible College, Drury, Evangel and Missouri State University. The objectives of the collaborative partnership are to:
- Increase pupil achievement in SPS Title I schools, particularly academic performance in communication arts and mathematics as measured by beginning, middle and end of year Performance Series Assessments.
- Improve the quality of teacher candidates who graduate from the teacher education programs of the collaborating institutions and are potential hires for SPS Title I schools (and Title I schools in other districts).
- Facilitate the transition of newly hired teachers into their first year of full-time teaching in SPS schools, especially Title I schools.
This project should result in higher SPS student achievement in reading and mathematics, and provide the students with a sense of accomplishment that increases the likelihood they will become productive community members and responsible citizens.
In addition, this project enhances the field based learning of university teacher candidates who have a passion for working with Title I students. TEA placement should help them be better prepared and have the opportunity to understand challenges they may encounter in Title I classrooms as certified teachers.
Schools and partners
| SPS TEA School | Higher Education Partner |
| Watkins ELE | Baptist Bible College |
Boyd ELE McGregor ELE Pipkin MS Central HS |
Drury University |
Bingham ELE Weller ELE |
Evangel University |
Bowerman ELE |
Missouri State University |
| Delaware ELE Holland ELE |
Evangel, Drury and Missouri State University – began sharing partnership with both Holland and Delaware ELE as a pilot at the beginning of the 2011/12 school year. |