Research & Curriculum Unit

Staffing Outside the Box: Strategies for Addressing CTE Teacher Shortages Providing learners with access to qualified instructors with relevant occupational experience and teaching skills is one of the most important and challenging aspects of providing high-quality secondary CTE programs.

MDE’s Literacy team will visit 📙W.J. Quarles Elementary School, 111 Quarles St. in Long Beach, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 📗 to share information with families of K-3 grade students. The meeting is open to area families with K-3 students, not just those who attend W.J. Quarles Elementary. Families will receive an overview of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which is the state law concerning literacy and assessment, as well as strategies that can be used at home to help students improve their reading skills. No registration is required.

Calling all educators, families, students, and advocates! The MDE Office of Special Education proudly presents the 4th annual MS Transition Conference on December 4, 2024, at the Hilton in Jackson, MS!

We are excited to announce the upcoming Kicking it into Gear: Transitioning with a Purpose conference and invite you to contribute to this impactful event by submitting a session proposal. This conference aims to bring together educators, practitioners, families, students, and advocates to explore innovative strategies and share best practices for supporting students with disabilities as they transition from school to adulthood. We encourage proposals that address a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: transition planning, career readiness, life skills development, and collaborative approaches. Your insights and expertise can make a significant difference in improving transition outcomes for students. Join us in shaping the future of special education transition!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Transition2024

Congrats, Officer Kino Reese

Bye Bhanu! Go be great! We will miss you. Thank you for your 12 years of incredible service!! Sathish Samiappan

Kelly Watson’s dream job is to become an editor-in-chief for a famous publishing house with renowned writers. The RCU is giving her that chance to pursue this aspiration.

The RCU curriculum writers at MSU rest easy, confident that their content is in capable hands. Kelly Watson ensures that every piece of Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum is transformed into its best possible version, meticulously written, edited and published for Mississippi Board of Education approval. With the pressure to meet firm deadlines and stay within budget, the Mississippi Department of Education relies on RCU professionals to deliver. Each course is crafted to align with national and state-level standards in academics, the workplace, technology, and industry.

“In my role as an editor, I support my colleagues by helping them perfect the work they are passionate about,” said Watson. “I think it allows them to let go of the worry and stop agonizing over their writing, so they can focus on the content they are producing.”

After earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Mississippi State, the Brandon, Mississippi native’s first job was teaching high school English. Then her alma mater hired her to teach college literature and composition classes. She said both jobs helped to hone her editing skills.

“I’ve always had a sharp eye so when I wanted to make a career change, a position such as this felt natural to me.” This job allows me to stay at MSU and continue to develop my professional skills,” said Watson. “I’ve always loved MSU; even when choosing colleges, I never considered going anywhere else. So being able to stay here is special. MSU has always felt like home to me.”

When Watson isn't editing, she immerses herself in a good book and indulges in creative writing, hoping to complete a novel someday.

“I love to read and write. I have a deep appreciation of literature and the way that it can shape our world’s reality. Reading allows you to experience a situation that you otherwise wouldn’t have been in. I’ve always said that if more people read books the world would be a better, more empathetic place.”

As a child, Tiffany Hodge (Tiffany Johnson Hodge) loved playing “teacher,” a passion that led to a career in education. Raised in Biloxi, MS, Hodge earned degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership. As a CTE Director at Ocean Springs High School, she focused on building teacher relationships and ensuring student success.

After retiring, she joined the RCU as a part-time project manager for the CTE Administrator Academy, where she continues to make an impact.

“The rewards of working as a rehire-retiree are immense,” Hodge said, “I’m blessed to continue influencing the educational landscape.”

Lynn Ray Eiland’s success is rooted in her small-town upbringing in Sturgis, MS.

Inspired by her mom and high school mentors, the Governor’s Scholar, earned dual degrees from MSU. Eiland worked various university jobs when the MSU Foundation hired her to work in fundraising. However, raising young children inspired her to earn a teaching license. She taught school until the RCU hired her as a project manager for federally-funded educational projects.

“Working for the RCU was a fulfilling chapter of my career,” Eiland said.

After retiring, she returned part-time, managing grant budgets and assisting with the MS ACTE conference.

LaNell Kellum's dedication to education is from growing up in Eupora, MS.

After earning her Ph.D. from MSU, she began her career teaching Home Economics before moving to Oklahoma to work on federal grants. Returning home, Kellum joined the RCU as a research associate, eventually becoming a senior research associate.

“I enjoy equipping teachers and administrators with valuable resources,” Kellum said.

The rehire-retiree now works at the RCU overseeing special projects.

Suzanne Bean, raised in the Delta, is a first-generation college graduate thanks to her parents who instilled the importance of education. This foundation, along with her love for helping children, led her to earn a Ph.D. in Special Education.

After a 45-year career as a teacher and a teacher educator, Bean found a new home at the RCU, where she works part-time.

“It’s a great feeling to make a positive difference,” Bean said. “Nothing can replace the time spent investing in the success of another.”

Sarah Beth Phelps was born and raised as an MSU Bulldog. Native to Starkville, the RCU business manager graduated from Mississippi State University and moved to take a supply chain job for a company in Tennessee. When she crossed the state line, she started trying to find her way home to Bulldog™ Nation. Phelps and her husband spent the next seven years working and creating a life in the Memphis area. When their son, Walker was born they decided it was time to move back home.

"We wanted our son to experience the same college town community I did, where neighbors support each other and connection and compassion are part of everyday life," Phelps said. "You have a strong support system during tough times and enthusiastic support during good times. It’s a place where you make lifelong friends, whether at school, picnics on the MSU drill field, or enjoying lunch at the Perry Cafeteria."

Phelps and her husband are part of a growing trend of young professionals leaving big cities for small-town life. When her husband landed a sales marketing job for an insurance business firm their small-town American dream of watching the local Christmas parade and kids enjoying a game of ball at the park came true.

Their excitement extended to sports and local traditions as well. “We were excited about tailgating at the MSU Junction, attending football games, and enjoying baseball games in Left Field Lounge," Phelps said. "A railroad track once ran through what is now the Junction, and we couldn't wait for my dad to show Walker a piece of it and share the story.”

After Phelps’ family moved to Starkville, life changed for the better when she discovered they were to have a little girl, Emma. Then Phelps was hired by the Research and Curriculum Unit.

"In just one year, we've moved, welcomed a baby, started a new job, and began building a new house," Phelps shared. "I enjoy MSU’s work culture and being part of a collaborative team. There's a lot that happens behind the scenes at the RCU, and it's rewarding to see how my contributions positively impact my colleagues. It truly takes a team!"

For more, visit https://www.rcu.msstate.edu/directory/sej154.

Take a Deep dive into All 13 Disability Categories and Enhance Your Special Education Expertise!" 🌟 Join the Family Guides to Special Education Course. Register by September 6, 2024!" bit.ly/FGFall2024

It's the inaugural day of the New Special Education Teacher Mentoring Program in Mississippi. The Research & Curriculum Unit and the Mississippi Department of Education experts welcome 37 distinguished mentors to this pivotal 2-year initiative.
On their first day, participants engaged in a comprehensive review of the Professional Growth Rubric for Special Education Teachers, gaining valuable insights into its application and the fundamental responsibilities of a mentor.
This program aims to foster professional development, enhance collaboration and advance excellence in special education throughout the state.
We look forward to the significant contributions these mentors will make as they embark on this important journey.

Results from the 2023-24 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program have been released and show student achievement has reached an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts and science. Get complete details at bit.ly/3Au0BoM.

91.1 The Junction: MSU radio boasts new name, sound and voice Mississippi State’s radio station is celebrating its 30th year in operation with a new name, new sound and new pulse for the Golden Triangle community

New tradition unlocked 🔓 🔔 More cowbell anyone? New Maroon Camp is in full swing, and we’re thrilled to welcome the class of 2028 to campus!

Master the Art of Tailored Teaching! 🎨 Join our Specially Designed Instruction Course and make a lasting impact on every learner. Register now! tinyurl.com/SDIcourse24

Empower Every Student! 🌟 Unlock inclusive teaching strategies with our Access for All 2.0 Course—Enroll now! bit.ly/AFAFall2024

Katherine Hancock, a project manager on the RCU curriculum team, helps teachers create symphonies of engaged learning environments. Working with educators and industry representatives, Hancock uses her music and educational background to write “Health Science,” curricula with a rhythm that captures and keeps students’ attention and helps them find their voice and career passion. With a degree in music education, she spent nine years honing her talent by implementing and teaching curricula, such as songwriting, audio engineering, and music production to students in the inner-city Memphis school district.

“Music and any other art form taken in middle and high school is essential for students to be well-rounded, but also to open them up to career pathways they might not otherwise know about. Songwriting and music production appealed to my students and revealed college and career opportunities that they had not thought possible,” Hancock said. “For me, teaching music as a form of self-expression and connection, as well as introducing pathways in music as viable career options, was one of my most rewarding experiences.”

After a decade of teaching, Hancock had an opportunity for a slight career change when her husband was accepted into MSU’s Master of Landscape and Architecture Program. That is when the RCU offered Hancock a job where the significance of her work lies in its ability to uplift and support those on the front lines of education.

“It’s the perfect job for me. I get to use my curriculum-writing and teaching experience to support teachers behind the scenes,” Hancock said. “Being a teacher is the hardest and one of the most fulfilling jobs. It’s a privilege to support teachers from the other side, to make their jobs a little easier and their curriculum/classrooms more functional and conducive for student learning and growth.”

In her free time, Hancock is a singer and songwriter and uses music as a bridge to connect with others to find common ground and as a catalyst to help her orchestrate change, one note at a time.

For more info, visit https://www.rcu.msstate.edu/directory/kbk38.

Janna Paes, a project manager for the RCU assessment team, grew up in a family of life-long educators. As she describes it, “Education was in my blood.”

“My dad was a high school teacher, coach, principal and superintendent of education, and my mom was an elementary teacher,” Paes said. “Even after seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of education behind the scenes, my sister and I both chose to embrace the great parts and become teachers. My sister followed in my mom’s footsteps as an elementary teacher, and I taught secondary education like my dad.”

The Simpson County native’s journey of pursuing education as a career began at Mississippi State University, where she majored in secondary social studies education, and also obtained an English endorsement.

Paes reflected on her and a friend’s decision to attend MSU, “We took a leap of faith and ventured out of our small hometown of Mendenhall to Starkville, Mississippi without knowing another soul. We did it based on having family members who attended and loved their time at MSU. It proved to be a risk worth taking. We recently celebrated our 20th anniversary of moving to MSU by capturing a photo with Bully during a baseball game to commemorate our MSU memories.”

Equipped with a degree in secondary education, Paes moved home and spent three years teaching middle school social studies and English, while also earning her Master of Education degree. Then she spent 11 years teaching in Starkville at the middle and high school levels.

She expressed her enjoyment in her role at the RCU, “I hope to empower Career and Technical Education educators to guide high school students in exploring diverse career paths, ensuring they find fulfillment in their choices.”

As Paes looks back, she is grateful for her family's educational legacy and to the RCU for allowing her to continue a career dedicated to shaping the future of students.

For more information, please visit https://www.rcu.msstate.edu/directory/jlp280.

🚀 ! Earn FREE professional development and learn AI fundamentals with the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network ( )! 🚀

📚 Enroll Now in FREE AI Courses:
https://mgccc.edu/programs/community-education/workforce-ai-courses/

🧠 Explore "Train the Trainer" Courses:
These self-paced FREE courses each cover 64 hours of flexible online content over 16 weeks. Content includes AI foundations, ethics, usage, and more!

🌟 Powered by MAIN:
MAIN, the nation's first statewide AI initiative, partners with all 15 community colleges, several major universities and other public and private organizations throughout the State of Mississippi. Funded by Accelerate MS, MAIN collaborates with global technology leaders Intel and Dell Technologies. These courses utilize Intel's AI for Workforce curriculum and are hosted by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ( ).
https://acceleratems.org/mississippis-ai-network-bridging-education-and-workforce-innovation/

🗓️ These courses are open now and stay open throughout the academic year! Start, stop or continue at your own pace! Sign up today to take advantage of this unique FREE opportunity!

🔗 Connect with MAIN: https://dot.cards/kollinnapier

showed Vicksburg Warren School District’s culinary students how to make simple appetizers like cauliflower bites during a tour of U.S. Foods in Jackson.
For more on the visit, see p. 15 of the spring issue of Connections: https://issuu.com/rcumedia/docs/connections_spring_2024_web

Looking forward to seeing you at MS Horizon's 2024.

Can’t wait to see all of you at MS Horizons 2024! Stop by the MSU-ACI expo booth to take a chance to win a 3d bully AND check out all the amazing things we can bring to your classroom!!

Accelerate MS Three Rivers Career Coaches Research & Curriculum Unit EMCC Workforce and Community Services East Mississippi Community College

🚀 Teachers! Earn FREE CEUs and learn AI fundamentals with the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network ( )! 🚀

📚 Enroll Now in FREE AI Courses:
https://mgccc.edu/programs/community-education/workforce-ai-courses/

🧠 Explore "Train the Trainer" Course:
This self-paced FREE course covers 64 hours of flexible online content over 16 weeks. Content includes AI foundations, ethics, usage, and more!

🌟 Powered by MAIN:
MAIN, the nation's first statewide AI initiative, partners with all 15 community colleges, several major universities and other public and private organizations throughout the State of Mississippi. Funded by Accelerate MS, MAIN collaborates with global technology leaders Intel and Dell Technologies. These courses utilize Intel's AI for Workforce curriculum and are hosted by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ( ).
https://acceleratems.org/mississippis-ai-network-bridging-education-and-workforce-innovation/

🗓️ The course is open now and stays open throughout the academic year! Start, stop or continue at your own pace! Sign up today to take advantage of this unique FREE opportunity!

🔗 Connect with MAIN: https://dot.cards/kollinnapier

Starkville, Mississippi native, Adrienne Minor works as a project manager for the RCU in professional learning and school innovation. Minor holds a bachelor’s degree in English from McNeese State University, where she received a full athletic scholarship and a master’s degree in special education from Grand Canyon University. She uses her unique educational background to support educators in their development of innovative teaching strategies. Her team provides “professional development, on-site support, and professional coaching to educators who aspire to be instructional coaches/leaders and mentors.” She spent the earlier years of her career teaching English before moving into the position of lead mentor and interventionist. Minor says she couldn’t imagine a career outside of education, “Teaching is a way for me to grow as I learn with, model for, and support learners.”
Minor was first introduced to the RCU while teaching at Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District through her own experience of professional development at the RCU’s Coach University. She recalls the program being highly influential and it sparked an interest in the RCU. Now she’s the project manager over that same program that helped to refine her leadership capabilities.
When thinking about her influence on Mississippi’s education system, Minor says:
“I loved teaching in the classroom. I loved learning about my students and providing an environment and instruction that would impact them and help them become better humans today and adults tomorrow. The impact was deep, but I supported my 100 students each year. In my current work, I can serve teachers, counselors and administrators through coaching and mentoring who will return to their schools and transform even more students, teachers, parents, community, etc. The impact is great, and the reach is great. It is a weightier call but a worthy one.”

When she’s not busy inspiring educators, Minor enjoys many hobbies including cooking, painting, traveling and meeting new people as well as simply relaxing with a cup of tea and a good book.
For more info about Minor, please visit: https://www.rcu.msstate.edu/directory/alm1325

Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District hosted its first Conference at Mississippi Valley State University. GLCTC students taught workshops on helpful topics ranging from handwashing to building leadership skills.
For more on GLCTC’s Educators Rising conference, see p. 8 of the spring issue of Connections: https://issuu.com/rcumedia/docs/connections_spring_2024_web