UWA’s College of Education awarded NCTR’s Boundless Educators Initiative grant for teacher preparation

Story: Lisa Sollie

The University of West Alabama’s College of Education has received a $75K grant from the National Center for Teacher Residencies’ (NCTR) Boundless Educators Initiative. UWA is one of 43 teacher residencies selected to receive a 2025-2026 Boundless Educators grant aimed at recruiting, preparing, and retaining aspiring educators in their communities. 

“Teacher residency programs are the cornerstone of supporting the teaching workforce across the U.S., and by investing in these programs, we are not only nurturing the next generation of educators but also ensuring a brighter future for students who are taught by these well-prepared educators,” said Keilani Goggins, Ed.D., managing director of the initiative. 

University President Dr. Todd G. Fritch said selection for the grant is a testimony to UWA’s reputation for teacher preparation.

“We are deeply appreciative of this generous funding from the National Center for Teacher Residencies and especially honored to be one of so few chosen,” said UWA President Todd G. Fritch, Ph.D. “Support from a renowned organization in the field of teacher preparation is a reflection of the confidence placed in our programs with UWA’s nearly 200-year history of preparing our region’s best teachers. Being selected further validates the strength and capacity we have for continuing this legacy of excellence.”

According to Dr. Cheryl Lambert, dean of UWA’s College of Education, the college’s grant proposal, Rural Residency Opportunities for Outstanding Teacher Scholars (ROOTS), will support over 60 teacher scholarships annually, alongside mentors, professional development, and partnerships to enhance recruitment, preparation, and retention of rural educators.

“Serving Alabama and Mississippi, ROOTS is a grow-your-own teacher residency program that uses a competency-based education model with job-embedded learning and flexible credentialing to prepare effective teachers more quickly,” notes Lambert.

The initiative will help address the shortage of diverse teachers and positive male role models in elementary schools.

“ROOTS is more than a residency—it is a commitment to building a sustainable, diverse, and community-embedded teacher pipeline for the future,” she added. “We are extremely excited about the support these teacher scholars will receive as they prepare to enter the classroom with confidence.”

According to NCTR, investments in teacher residents through the Boundless Educators Initiative have resulted in reducing barriers for aspiring educators entering and remaining in the profession, supported recruitment pipelines that reflect the communities predominantly served in Title I schools, supported mentor teachers in providing rigorous clinical preparation and coaching, aided programs in redesigning and implementing research-based practices that improve the recruitment, selection, preparation, and support experiences of educators, and raised the teacher residency graduation rates for teacher candidates.

For additional details about ROOTS or other programs within the College of Education, please reach out to Dr. Cheryl Lambert at clambert@uwa.edu or Dr. Reenay Rogers at rrogers@uwa.edu.  

Ready to join the University of West Alabama? Apply now by clicking here: https://www.uwa.edu/apply-now/

About NCTR
The National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing, launching, supporting, and accelerating the impact of teacher residency programs. Headquartered in Chicago, NCTR’s mission is to transform educator preparation by advancing the teacher residency movement to prepare, support, and retain more effective educators who represent and value the communities they serve. For more information about NCTR, visit www.nctresidencies.org. 

About the Boundless Educators Initiative
Launched in 2019, the Boundless Educators Initiative contributes to increasing student access to well-prepared teachers who reflect the communities they serve throughout the United States. Boundless Educators Initiative is graciously funded by Ballmer Group. For more information, visit https://nctresidencies.org/nctr-network/bei/.