Skip to Content

Grants to Tennessee Colleges and Universities

Category One

Preparation of Paraprofessionals / Educational Assistants - Special Education Licensure Project

Eligibility: Individuals who are (1) presently employed in an approved Tennessee public or private school as an educational assistant; (2) serving students with disabilities; and (3) recommended by the Special Education Supervisor / Director. Persons meeting the eligibility criteria may be eligible for financial assistance in the form of tuition remission, and selected fees associated with the coursework leading to Tennessee teacher licensure in special education. Trainees must agree to teach in Tennessee following the completion of the training.

This training for paraprofessionals / educational assistants is offered by the following Universities and Colleges. For additional information, contact the persons named below:

Bethel University Cumberland University Lee University
325 Cherry Avenue One Cumberland Square 1120 North Ocoee Street
P.O. Box 3450
McKenzie TN 38201 Lebanon, TN 37087 Cleveland, TN 37320-3450
Dr. Shannon Godwin – Division Chair Dr. Charles Collier, Dean, School of Education and Public Service Dr. Kimberly Moffett, Grant Coordinator
731-352-4025 615-547-1310 423-614-8672
godwins@bethelu.edu ccollier@cumberland.edu kmoffett@leeuniversity.edu
Dr. Shannon Godwin, Grant Coordinator Karen Hobson, Assistant Grant Coordinator Educational Assistant Project
731-352-4025 615-547-1313 Helen DeVos College of Education
  khobson@cumberland.edu Lee University
Educational Assistant Project Educational Assistant Project 1120 North Ocoee Street, Office 212B
Department of Education Cumberland University 1120 Cleveland, TN 37320
Bethel University One Cumberland Square P.O. Box 3450
McKenzie, TN 38201 Lebanon, TN 37087-3554 Cleveland, TN 37320-3450
731-352-6407    

Back to top

Category Two

Category Two

Preparation of Special Educators/Special Education Teachers Seeking Special Education Degrees and/or Licensure

Eligibility: Individuals who are students, including freshmen, transfer, and post-baccalaureate candidates, who intend to complete course work leading to a degree in special education and/or Tennessee licensure in the area of special education, may be eligible for financial assistantships in the form of tuition remission, cost of books, and selected fees.  Students who receive assistance under this program must agree to teach special education in a Tennessee school following the completion of the program.

The following Colleges and Universities offer training for persons seeking a degree in special education and/or Tennessee licensure in the area of special education.  For additional information, contact the persons names below:

 

Fisk University LeMoyne-Owen College Tennessee State University
1000 17th Avenue, North 807 Walker Avenue 3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37208-3051 Memphis, TN 38126 Nashville, TN 37209-1561
Mr. Richard Bowers, Head Dr. Ralph Calhoun, Coordinator Dr. Harold Mitchell, Head
Telephone: 615-329-8683 Telephone: 901-774-9090, Ext. 576 Telephone: 615-963-7009
  Fax: 901-942-6245 Fax: 615-963-7119
E-mail: rbowers@fisk.edu E-mail: ralph_calhoun@nile.loc.edu E-mail: hmitchell@tnstate.edu
Area of Concentration/ Licensure: Special Education: Modified K-12 (Undergraduate) Area of Concentration or Licensure: Special Education: Modified K-12 (Undergraduate) Area of Concentration or Licensure: Special Education: Speech/Language Pre-K-12 (Undergraduate and Graduate)

Back to top

Category Three

Training for Special Educators / Special Education Teachers Who Have Been Issued Permits, Waivers and Interim Licenses

Eligibility: Persons who are currently employed as teachers or related services personnel (i.e., occupational therapist, school nurse, school psychologist, etc.) in an approved Tennessee public or private school, and (2) have been issued waivers, permits, or Interim Tennessee Teaching License may be eligible for the remission of costs for tuition, books, and fees. The coursework must address the deficiencies and lead to licensure in Tennessee in the area of Special Education. Trainees must agree to work in the Tennessee schools upon completion of the training.

The following Colleges and Universities have received special grants to provide special education coursework for students who meet the eligibility criteria. For additional information, contact the persons listed below:

 

East Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University

Special Education: Modified K-12 Special Education: Modified K-12 Special Education: Modified K-12
Special Education: Comprehensive K-12 Special Education: Comprehensive K-12  
Special Education: Early Childhood Prek-3 Special Education: Vision K-12  
Contact: Contact: Contact
Dr. Lori Marks Dr. Jim Calder Dr. Judith Presley
ETSU B ox 70548 P.O. Box 69 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd.
Johnson City, TN 37614-0548 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Dept of Teaching & Learning
Telephone: 423-439-7901 Telephone: 615-898-5016 Nashville, TN 37209-3401
Fax: 423-439-7790 Fax: 615-898-5309 Telephone: 615-963-5468
E-mail: marks@etsu.edu E-mail: jecalder@mtsu.edu Facsimile: 615-963-7308
    E-mail: jpresley@tnstate.edu
     
     
     

Tennessee Technological University

University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

University of Tennessee - Martin

Special Education: Modified K-12 Special Education: Modified K-12 Special Education: Modified K-12
Special Education: Comprehensive K-12 Special Education: Comprehensive, K-12  
  Special Education: Early Childhood PreK-1  
Cotact Contact: Contact
Dr. Helen T. Dainty Dr. Barbara Ray Dr. Cherry Watts
TTU Box 5074 Department 4154 UT Martin
Cookeville, TN 38505 615 McCallie Avenue 205 H Gooch Hall
Telephone: 931-372-3116 Chattanooga, TN 37403 Martin, TN 38238
Fax: 931-372-6620 Telephone: 423-425-4538 Telephone: 731-881-7212
Email: hdainty@tntech.edu Fax: 423-425-5380 Fax: 731-881-7956
  E-mail: barbara.ray@utc.edu Email: cwatts@utm.edu
     
     
     
     

University of Memphis

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

 
Special Education: Modified K-12 Special Education: Modified K-12  
Special Education: Comprehensive K-12 Special Education: Comprehensive K-12  
Special Education: Speech/Language PreK-12 Special Education: Speech/Language, PreK-12  
Contact: Special Education: Hearing, K-12  
Dr. Sandra Cooley Claxton Complex A423  
413D Ball Hall University of Tennessee  
University of Memphis Knoxville, TN 37996-3400  
Memphis, TN 38152 Contact:  
Telephone: 901-678-2862 Dr. Susan Benner  
Facsimile: 901-678-3881 Telephone: 865-974-6228  
E-mail: smcooley@memphis.edu Facsimile: 865-974-8718  
  E-mail: sbenner@utk.edu  
  Dr. Jean Schindler  
  Telephone: 865-974-4167  
  Facsimile: 865-974-8718  
  E-mail: jschindler@uik.edu  
  Dr. Mike Hannum  
  Telephone: 865-974-4155  
  Facsimile: 865-974-8718  
  E-mail: mhannum@utk.edu  

S

Back to top

Category Four

Become A Special Educator in Tennessee Teaching Program  (BASE-TN Teaching Program)  

Eligibility - The following priority groups have been established for the BASE-TN Teaching Program:

First priority shall be given to candidates with a Bachelor's degree or higher whose approved Plans of Study indicate intent to complete all remaining course work and other requirements for Tennessee licensure in an area of special education within 12 to 24 calendar months from effective date of original award. This first priority includes "career switchers" or persons with a major other than an area of special education who now seek to obtain Tennessee teaching licensure in an area of special education (e.g., persons who hold a degree in general psychology, English, or elementary education). The BASE-TN Teaching Program will provide financial support in the form of tuition remission and books to complete requirements leading to a Tennessee teaching license in an area of special education as reflected in each student’s Plan of Study.

Second priority shall include persons who (a) are currently working full-time as an educational assistant in a Tennessee approved public school, (b) have earned at least two years of transferable college credit in an area of special education, (c) are currently serving students with disabilities on a full-time basis, and (d) submit written intent to earn a Bachelor's degree in special education within a maximum of three calendar years. The BASE-TN Teaching Program will provide financial support in the form of tuition remission and books to complete graduation requirements leading to an initial Tennessee license in special education as reflected in each student’s Plan of Study.

The BASE-TN Teaching Program award entails a commitment to full-time teaching two years in a Tennessee public school for each year the award is received. The goal of the BASE-TN Teaching Program is to help increase the number of properly licensed Tennessee teachers serving students with disabilities in Tennessee public schools.

The following Tennessee colleges and universities have received grants to provide BASE-TN Teaching Program assistantships and fellowships to students who meet the eligibility criteria. Persons interested in applying for a BASE-TN Teaching Program assistantship or fellowship should contact the representatives named below. (For a copy of the BASE-TN Guidelines and general application form, go to www.tn.gov/education/base-tn/ or www.tn.gov/education/speced/ and click on "BASE-TN Teaching Program." Note: The completed application should be returned to one of the representatives named below according to the deadlines shown.)

Name / E-Mail Address University Address City/ State / Zip TEL / FAX Application Due Dates
DR. K. CHARLES COLLIER
ccollier@cumberland.edu
Cumberland University School of Education
One Cumberland Square
Lebanon, TN 37087 615-444-2562, Ext 1110
615-444-2569
08-16-04 (Fall)
12-10-04 (Spr/Sum)
DR. DEBBIE THOMAS
dthomas@fisk.edu
Fisk University 1000 17 th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37208-3051
 
615-329-8745
615-329-8802
 
08-01-04 (Fall)
11-01-04 (Spr/Sum)
MR. RICHARD BOWERS
rbowers@fisk.edu
Fisk University 1000 17 th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37208-3051 615-329-8683
615-329-8802
DR. RALPH CALHOUN
ralph_calhoun@nile.loc.edu
LeMoyne-Owen College
 
807 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126-9989 901-774-9090, Ext 576
901-942-6233
 
08-01-04 (Fall)
11-15-04 (Spr/Sum)
DR. JAMES P. TAKONA LeMoyne-Owen College 807 Walker Avenue Memphis, TN 38126-9989 901-942-7369
DR. BELLA HIGDON
behigdon@mtsu.edu
Middle TN State University P.O. Box 69 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 615-898-5016
615-898-5309
08-01-04 (Fall)
10-15-04 (Spr/Sum)
DR. SHERRI TRENT
shtrent@mtsu.edu
Middle TN State University P.O. Box 531 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 615-898-2628
615-898-5309
DR. TOM WILLIS
twillis@tntech.edu
 
TN Technological University Box 5074 Cookeville, TN 38505 931-372-3558
931-372-6270
07-19-04 (Fall)
12-06-04 (Spring)
04-26-05 (Summer)
DR. BARBARA RAY
barbara-ray@utc.edu
University of TN - Chattanooga 615 McCallie Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37403 423-425-4538
423-425-5380
08-12-04 (Fall)
12-01-04 (Spring)
DR. MIKE HANNUM
mhannum@utk.edu
University of TN - Knoxville Claxton Complex A423 Knoxville, TN 37996-3400 865-974-4155
865-974-8718
08-13-04 (Fall)
11-19-04 (Spring)
05-06-05 (Summer)
DR. SANDRA COOLEY-NICHOLS
smcooley@memphis.edu
 
University of Memphis  413D Ball Hall  Memphis, TN 38152 901-678-2862
901-678-3881
07-31-04 (Fall)
10-31-04 (Spr/Sum)

Back to top