School Districts To Use Grant Funds to Help Students Explore Educator Careers

Program is part of efforts to address teacher shortage

LANSING – Nineteen school districts from around Michigan are receiving Future Proud Michigan Educator EXPLORE grants to assist students who are interested in careers in education.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) awarded EXPLORE program grants and EXPLORE staff grants totaling $625,869.

EXPLORE staff grants pay for tuition reimbursement for graduates of the EXPLORE program who hope to return to their home district to teach.

“The EXPLORE grants help students gain experience working with younger children in classrooms and get a sense of the power of a teaching career in their local communities,” said State Superintendent Michael F. Rice. “This is a long-term investment that empowers districts to grow an educator workforce that is representative of their communities and that has the potential to help address the local staffing needs of school districts.”

Increasing the numbers of certified teachers in areas of shortage is Goal 7 in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.

Grant winners and the dollar amounts are:

• Concord Community Schools, $10,000.
• Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools, $20,000.
• Grand Rapids Public Schools, $60,000.
• Hemlock Public Schools, $20,000.
• Holland Public Schools, $49,870.
• Holt Public Schools, $20,000.
• Ida Public Schools, $20,000.
• Inland Lake Schools, $7,500.
• Lincoln Consolidated Schools, $10,000.
• Midland Public Schools, $20,000.
• Mount Pleasant Public Schools, $10,000.
• Muskegon Public Schools, $9,933.
• Niles Community Schools, $8,710.
• Parchment School District, $9,856.
• Rockford Public Schools, $240,000.
• Romulus Community Schools, $10,000.
• Saginaw Township Community Schools, $20,000.
• Waldron Area Schools, $60,000.
• Wayne-Westland Community School District, $20,000.

“This grant funding will allow us to expand a highly successful partnership with Michigan State University that provides for us to recruit and guide students into being Future Proud Michigan Educators,” said Mr. Matthew Cortez, superintendent of Muskegon Public Schools. “Student participants have an opportunity to visit our elementary schools weekly to tutor younger students and experience what it’s like to be a teacher. Then these young people can go to college and return to Muskegon Public Schools to support community, district, and educational development. We are extremely proud of the results of our partnership with MSU.”

Districts that are awarded an EXPLORE program grant receive $10,000 per school building to develop and maintain programs for students in grades 6-12 who are interested in teaching careers. MDE will partner with awarded districts by consulting on program design and implementation and by providing free curricular resources and professional learning for EXPLORE instructors. Student opportunities may include visiting Michigan’s educator preparation programs, tutoring younger students during summer learning, partnering with a mentor teacher, and celebrating college decisions at a Future Educator Signing Day.

“The Future Proud Michigan Educator EXPLORE program is empowering our district to cultivate the next generation of educators within our community,” said Dr. Leadriane Roby, superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools. “We have established GR Teach Clubs, providing scholars with invaluable opportunities to jumpstart their journey. Through mentorship from experienced educators, hands-on lessons, and college visits, our scholars gain early exposure to the field of education. These transformative experiences would not be possible without the support of the Future Proud Michigan Educator EXPLORE grant.”

Districts awarded EXPLORE staff grants may use funds to support district-employed graduates transitioning from high school to post-secondary educator preparation pathways. Districts will receive reimbursement of up to $10,000 in tuition costs per graduate who is currently undertaking pre-program coursework but has not yet enrolled in a teacher preparation program.

"Our secondary educational pathways are designed to foster a sense of purpose and belonging within our schools,” said Dr. David Hornak, superintendent of Holt Public Schools. “Our partnership with the Michigan Department of Education EXPLORE program aligns perfectly with this vision. EXPLORE allows us to proactively address the teacher shortage and cultivate a diverse talent pipeline of future teacher leaders. Through this initiative, students can progress from our junior high peer-to-peer mentorship program to the high school EXPLORE program and then to the Holt Early College Program, all under the guidance of our exceptional teaching staff at Holt Public Schools." 

Teacher preparation enrollment in Michigan has rebounded from a 59% decrease from 2011-12 through 2016-17 to a 71% increase from 2016-17 through 2022-23.

The state’s efforts to address the teacher shortage and encourage more people to pursue a teaching career in Michigan include, but are not limited to, scholarships to future educators; stipends for student teachers; student loan repayments; Future Proud Michigan Educator EXPLORE grants; the Future Proud Michigan Educator LAUNCH program; Grow Your Own grant programs to help support staff and students to become teachers; Talent Together; expedited reciprocity for teachers and counselors certified in other states; a rural credentialing hub; and tuition reimbursement for special education teachers.

Educators who are interested in learning more about EXPLORE programs, including accessing the free curriculum and professional learning, may visit the EXPLORE webpage, email MDE-PME@Michigan.gov, or view the Proud Michigan Educator video, which highlights various EXPLORE programs across the state.

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