Since 1985, the Minority Teacher Recruitment Project (MTRP) has been addressing the shortage of minority teachers in our nation's classrooms. The program is a partnership among the University of Louisville's College of Education and Human Development, the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), and the schools of the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC).

We focus on recruiting minority teacher candidates who will strive to incorporate the values, learning styles, and multiple cultural perspectives reflected in today's public schools.

MTRP helps hundreds of students realize their goal of becoming certified teachers in Kentucky's schools by providing career guidance, course advising, professional development seminars, and financial assistance.

Our programs are designed to:

• Increase the number of minority teachers in elementary, middle and secondary schools in the JCPS and the state.
• Identify and recruit middle and high school students who are interested in teaching.
• Recruit students at community colleges and support their transition to a four-year institution.
• Recruit professionals seeking a career change to the teaching field and support their enrollment in one of our graduate teacher preparation programs.

TeacherBridge—Community Colleges (2+2)

The TeacherBridge program assists minority students enrolled in community colleges who seek an associate's degree in early childhood and want to earn Kentucky teacher certification in IECE and a bachelor's degree.

MTRP/FEA Summer Camp

The MTRP/FEA Summer Camp is a week long residential program for rising high school eleventh graders, twelfth graders, and graduating seniors interested in becoming educators. Campers participate in professional development workshops, extracurricular activities, and field trips while gaining exposure to life in a university setting. Scholarship opportunities are available for graduating seniors who will be enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development at University of Louisville in the upcoming fall semester. This year's camp just occured the week of June 2 to June 6, 2008. For additional information and/or an application, please contact the Minority Teacher Recruitment Office at (502) 852-7697.

Programs We Offer

MTRP provides programs to support growth in minority teacher recruitment for participants from middle school to college ages and beyond.

Minority Teacher Scholarship Program

Scholarships of up to $5,000 annually are available to qualifying full- or part-time students of color pursuing initial teacher certification at UofL. To apply, you must provide the following documents:

• Completed application form
• Resumé
• Brief (one to two pages), typed, double-spaced essay, "Why I Want to Teach"
• Complete set of official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Two letters of recommendation (letters from relatives will not be considered)

Submit all materials by July 1 for Fall Semester or November 1 for Spring Semester.

Who Should Apply

• Minority students who want to make a difference in the lives of children, particularly those in our urban schools. Applicants should be willing to challenge old assumptions, explore new approaches to learning, and work energetically toward a rewarding career in the teaching profession.
• Undergraduates who are interested in a teaching career and have completed their bachelor's degree in either the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business, the School of Music or the Department of Health and Promotion, Physical Education and Sport Studies.
• Applicants should be prepared to make an intense commitment of approximately one year and be able to devote full time to student teaching during the spring semester of the program.