Education Renewal Zone Announces Adopt-A-Classroom Program

The University of Arkansas Education Renewal Zone is seeking faculty and staff members in all academic departments to partner with local public school teachers through the Adopt-A-Classroom Program.

Faculty and staff who participate will be matched with a K-12 teacher in one of 23 partner schools, which are schools in rural areas or schools that serve populations typically underrepresented in higher education. The purpose of this program is to allow K-12 teachers to see best practices and up-to-date content knowledge modeled in their classrooms by university faculty and staff. 

University personnel will be expected to visit once a month at a mutually agreed-upon time. Students in these classes will be excited to learn more about college and how college courses are taught. Besides the impact on students and teachers, the visits could serve as recruitment or research opportunities. 

For anyone who does not have experience teaching in a particular age range, the ERZ will assist with determining what to teach and the best practices for how to teach it. The program offers a further opportunity for the state’s land-grant institution to fulfill its mission of serving the state.

For more information, complete the interest form available online or contact Elizabeth Smith, ERZ director, at 575-3641.

The Education Renewal Zone is funded by the Arkansas Department of Education through a grant to the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. Its goal is to help local schools implement Common Core educational standards.