Office of Communications

Contact: Laura Hanna

Director of Communications

Office: (817) 531-4498

lhanna@txwes.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Training for Teachers Available at Texas Wesleyan

Biology, physical science and Algebra I teachers can receive two years of free training at Texas Wesleyan University, thanks to Teacher Quality (TQ) grants totaling more than $500,000. The three training opportunities provided through TQ grants are funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency and the University of Texas Dana Center under the federal No Child Left Behind initiative. TQ programs are designed to give in-depth content knowledge for teachers who are teaching out of their discipline, or who are alternatively, provisionally or temporarily certified.

Wesleyan's TQ offerings to area teachers have been ongoing since 1990. Participants who successfully complete all course requirements each year will earn six hours of graduate level credit toward a master's degree in education (120 hours of professional development credit). Wesleyan's program also provides teachers with money for tuition, books, fees, stipends, travel and per diem, plus materials and equipment enabling the teacher to teach their students this content knowledge in their own classrooms. The cost of the program is provided by the TQ grants, the University, and in the case of FWISD, the district the teacher serves.

Classes begin in June 2006 and run through the spring. For more information, contact Dr. Bruce Benz at (817) 531-4895 or bbenz@txwes.edu.