The faculty members in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership are active in the local public schools conducting professional development workshops, seminars and other activities.

The faculty in Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, in conjunction with the faculties of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Mathematics at Mississippi College, has been providing professional development for the teachers in the Jackson Public School District since 1998. The Jackson Urban Systemic Program (JUSP) which focuses on training for K-12 mathematics and science teachers is funded by a grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Tom Williams, department chair, is the grant's principal investigator. The JUSP grant will run through the 2004-05 school year.

Dr. Tom Williams is working collaboratively with the Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) to assist school districts in Mississippi with reforming science curricula. Mississippi College has served as the site of the Mississippi Region Hub since 2001. The K-12 Science Dissemination Center grant funded by the Education Development Center in Newton, MA, provides research-based science materials to school districts. These materials are provided by national publishers in order to assist school personnel in making decisions concerning science curriculum reform. The science materials are housed in Lowrey Hall. The grant with EDC runs through September 2004, but the work of the regional hub will be maintained by department funds. The grant with EDC has also allowed the department to provide mentoring for science teachers seeking National Board Certification and to provide intensive training on data-driven decision making for the faculty at Sumner Hill Ninth Grade Center in Clinton, MS. Members of the Sumner Hill faculty attended training session in Boston, MA in the summers of 2002 and 2003.

Through a grant secured by Dr. Tom Williams from the Academy of Educational Development (AED) in New York, NY, the department's faculty has been providing technical assistance and professional development to schools in Shelby, MS and Meridian, MS. Dr. Oka Duren provided assistance to Shelby Middle School in the Bolivar County School District in the 2002-03 school year. Dr. John Hunt has been providing technical assistance to Northeast Middle School in the Lauderdale County School District since the 2002-03 school year. The work in both districts is modeled after the Middle Start Middle School program developed by the Kellogg Foundation in Michigan. Dr. Merleen Ivey and Dr. Cindy Melton have provided professional development activities in literacy for the school faculties.

As a result of the work with AED, the department has been able to secure a grant with the Foundation of the Mid South to provide professional development for middle schools in Arcola, MS and Cleveland, MS. Dr. Oka Duren, Dr. Merleen Ivey, and Mrs. Emily Mulhollen have been providing training for the teachers at Chambers Middle School (Hollandale School District) and Eastwood Middle School (Cleveland School District) in mathematics and literacy. The work scope of this grant involves the 2004-05 school year.

The Department of Teacher Education and Leadership is providing Praxis I and II review sessions for personnel in the Jackson Public School District. The JPSD Office of Human Resources provides funds for these review sessions. Faculty members conducting review sessions are: Dr. O'ka Duren, and Dr. Emily Mulhollen.

Mississippi College serves as a partner institution of higher learning for the Mississippi Teacher Fellowship Program (MTFP). Dr. Curtis Summerlin serves as the school's coordinator for mentoring of teachers who have been accepted into this program.

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