NLU among first to receive the Augustus F. Hawkins Grant, aimed at diversifying education and addressing teacher shortages

The grant recognizes NLU's National College of Education for the excellence of its teaching residency programs and culturally responsive pedagogy

Awarded through the U.S. Department of Education's Hawkins Center of Educational Excellence, the Augusts F. Hawkins grant aims to assist the training and development of the next generation of diverse, culturally-responsive educators. This is a 4-year award will allow NLU and school district partners—Waukegan School District 60, Wheeling Schools in District 214, and North Chicago School District 187—to increase access, participation, and success of multilingual and diverse school paraprofessionals through a residency model that includes: communities of practice, culturally responsive teaching and learning standards, and multilingual supports for academic and licensure success. Ultimately, the model will be replicable for other school districts and district-university partnerships to recruit, grow and retain educators. 

“It is an honor to be among the first institutions to receive the inaugural Augustus Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program Grants," said Dr. Nivine Megahed, President of National Louis University. "As a Minority-Serving Institution, NLU has long taken pride working with local schools and educators to train an equity-minded generation of teachers for tomorrow’s young learners. This grant will help us provide pathways to increase the access, participation, and success of a diverse pipeline of teachers and paraprofessionals who reflect the values of the communities they serve.”       

Read more about the grant here.