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Rising Teachers: Milestone Successes, Bright Future

02/10/2025

In fall 2024, the Saint Louis University Rising Teachers program had notable student academic achievements, including over half making the Dean's List. The program expanded in fall 2024 and will again in summer 2025, welcoming a new cohort of 20 to 25 Rising Teachers.

The Rising Teachers program embodies the School of Education (SOE)’s mission by addressing the critical need for equity-minded and demographically diverse educators. This innovative program offers full scholarships to students with an associate degree or equivalent college credits who work full-time in one of 18 partner districts. The scholarships enable students to complete their Bachelor of Arts in Teaching degree and become certified teachers. Notably, this program has had several successes, including expansion, academic achievements, and campus enrichment activities.

Program Expansion and Academic Achievements

After securing a $5.96 million SEED grant, SOE faculty and staff quickly developed course roadmaps for elementary and dual certification tracks (elementary and special education), created a comprehensive curriculum, and welcomed the first cohort in Summer 2024. The program expanded in Fall 2024, following a successful first semester, admitting 20 more students. This expansion reflects the program's strong success to date, which includes several notable achievements:

Three participants sit at a table during a discussion.
Jeannine Butler, Ed.D., Rising Teachers academic director, in a coaching conversation with Jason Flores, Rising Teacher participant, and Rosalind Howard, Rising Teacher instructional coach.

"Rising Teachers has been an exceptional program for individuals already working in schools who wish to become full-time, certified teachers," says Karee Nasser, Ed.D., an instructional coach for the program. "Students receive a unique educational experience through personalized advising, one-on-one instructional coaching, and specialized online coursework. Whether they are substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, or in other roles, these students are gaining invaluable, hands-on learning that will make them strong future educators."

Whether they are substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, or in other roles, these students are gaining invaluable, hands-on learning that will make them strong future educators."

Karee Nasser, Ed.D., instructional coach

Campus Enrichment Activities

A key goal was to provide campus activities to the Rising Teachers, who attend classes online, to enrich their experience and enhance their school spirit. St. Louis-area students visited the SLU campus, where they had a full day of opportunities, including listening to guest speakers, taking a campus tour, eating lunch in the Pere Marquette Gallery, and attending a Billiken soccer game. SLU staff also visited students in the Kansas City area to bolster their sense of community and provide similar opportunities for engagement.

The Future is Bright

The Rising Teachers program is set to expand again in Summer 2025, welcoming 20 to 25 new students. These students will benefit from continued funding from the SEED grant and financial support from their respective school districts, allowing them to join the program at no personal cost. 

The early and continued success of Rising Teachers is notable on many levels. The program benefits individual students and the districts and children they serve, underscoring its transformative impact. Additionally, it highlights how the Saint Louis University School of Education is living its mission to serve the St. Louis community. Overall, it is clear that the future is bright for all involved.

For more information about the Rising Teachers Program, contact Jeannine Butler at jeannine.butler@slu.edu or Karen Collins-Adams at karen.collinsadams@slu.edu.