Matching grant would provide funds for mentors

MAT-SU — University of Alaska needs to raise $1.5 million in matching funds by Dec. 9 to secure a grant of equal amount from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Alaska Statewide Mentor Project, a partnership between the University of Alaska and the state Department of Education and Early Development, could support an additional 850 early career teachers and an estimated 46,000 students if the matching dollars are secured.

The five-year grant would assist first- and second-year teachers in the Anchorage, Fairbanks, Mat-Su and Kenai school districts. The Statewide Mentor Project already helps 320 teachers in 48 mostly rural school districts each year. The grant would expand that program to four urban regions if the university is successful in securing a required $1.5 million match from private donations.

Goals of the mentor project are to reduce teacher turnover and improve student achievement. While some research on the effectiveness of mentoring to achieve these goals has been conducted throughout the United States already, more is needed. Part of the $15 million federal grant would allow that additional research, and would include both the existing rural and new urban partners.

The U.S. Department of Education received nearly 600 applications for Investing in Innovation grants, known as “i3.” The Alaska Statewide Mentor Project’s grant application was one of 23 selected for funding, contingent on the match.

“The Alaska Statewide Mentor Project has evidenced success in teacher effectiveness and retention around the state for many years,” said Deena Paramo, superintendent of the Mat-Su Borough School District. “With the award of i3, the university can now reach out to larger districts and parallel these successes. We look forward to the partnership and to the good work that will result.”