Nevada Educator Preparation Institute & Collaborative (NV-EPIC) is pleased to announce the distribution of $208,000 in grant funding to seven mini-grant projects that will develop innovative practices for education and educator preparation. The selected projects focus on research that engages the meaningful recruitment, preparation, and retention of Nevada educators, with commitments toward the enhancement of teaching methods for diverse learners.
“The College of Education is committed to being a solution-driven partner with our community,” College of Education Dean Danica G. Hays said. “These projects represent a significant investment in evidence-based strategies that make a difference for students, families, and teachers alike.”
Project titles, principal investigators (PIs), and award amounts are summarized below. More information and full grant abstracts are available online:
Critical Participatory Action Research to Support Community Embedded STEM Education, Phase 2
PI: Katherine Wade-Jaimes, Assistant Professor – Department of Teaching & Learning: UNLV College of Education
Radically Literate Discrit-e analysis: Preservice teachers of color lived experiences of racist ableism and preparedness
PI: Marla Goins, Assistant Professor – Department of Teaching & Learning: UNLV College of Education
Co-PIs: Danielle Mireles, Assistant Professor; Norma A. Marrun, Associate Professor; and Christine Clark, Professor – Department of Teaching & Learning: UNLV College of Education
Addressing Teacher Retention and Wellbeing through Trauma-Informed Support
PI: Kaitlin Clinnin, Assistant Professor – Department of English: UNLV College of Liberal Arts
Co-PI: Chllyis Scott, Associate Professor – Department of Teaching & Learning: UNLV College of Education
Transitioning New Teachers
PI: Brenda Pearson, Director of Strategic Initiatives: Clark County Educator Association
Linking Latino Leaders of Nevada
PI: LeAnne Salazar Montoya, Assistant Professors - Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education: UNLV College of Education
Building Teacher Leadership Capacity in Nevada Schools
PI: Jacob Skousen, Assistant Professor – Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education: UNLV College of Education
CoPI: Peter Wiens Associate Professor – Department of Teaching & Learning: UNLV College of Education
Should I stay or should I go?: Exploring teacher retention in Southern Nevada
PI: Grant Hanevold, Chief Education Officer – The Public Education Foundation
NV-EPIC provided up to $30,000 to each project. Work will begin on the projects at the start of the 2022-23 academic year and run through May 2023. In addition to ongoing progress and accountability reporting done by the grant, findings will be publicized in the NV-EPIC IMPACT Report slated for May 2023.
“These findings will be valuable and provide evidence-based resources to education decision-makers in Nevada and nationwide,” Hays said.
These projects also facilitate a hands-on learning experience for at least 21 undergraduate scholars, an opportunity not typical of many bachelor’s degree programs. Students also benefit from working directly with UNLV faculty members and practicing education leaders and professionals who serve as principal investigators on the mini-grants.
“We are proud to support student scholars and future education researchers as they develop their skills in the processes of scholarship and inquiry,” COE Associate Dean of Research and Sponsored Projects Gwen Marchand said. “Our aim is for students to understand the natural and mutually beneficial partnerships between education researchers and practitioners. We also show them how their contributions to the research process drive progress.”
“The investments made possible by these grants create great opportunities for positive change for UNLV students, Nevada educators, and K-12 students and families,” NV-EPIC Principal Investigator Kenny Varner said. “We hope that this work provides the community with valuable resources to create sustainable pathways that put knowledge to work in ways that move Nevada forward, together.”
About NV-EPIC
Mini-grants were made possible thanks to funding from the Nevada Department of Education, which was awarded to NV-EPIC earlier this year. In addition to providing funding and program-level support for the mini-grants, NV-EPIC also supports students entering UNLV teacher preparation programs with scholarships. Grant funds also provide rich professional development opportunities where leading (inter)national speakers share perspectives and interact with students to develop their skills and familiarize them with varying topics in education, building critically engaged and aware teacher researchers.
Find more information about NV-EPIC online.