Newberry College's 'RETAIN' Center of Excellence Helps Teacher Retention in Local Schools

NEWBERRY, S.C., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With statistics showing that over half of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years, Newberry College has announced the establishment of the RETAIN Center of Excellence for Teacher Retention. Thanks to a five-year, $900,000 grant from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, RETAIN aims to increase teacher retention in local high-need schools.

"Newberry College is perfectly poised to build a successful Center of Excellence," said the Center's Assistant Director, Jennifer Morrison. "We will build on South Carolina's hard-earned successes, network with existing organizations, and – together with our partner districts – move the state forward."

Morrison will be working alongside the Director and Chair of the Department of Education, Dr. Cindy Johnson-Taylor, and Angela Floyd, the Coordinator of Public School Projects. Together, they'll work with local school districts to reach RETAIN's three goals: increase teacher retention in high-need school districts through a retention program, provide high-quality in-service professional development, and perform research related to teacher retention.

RETAIN, which stands for "Retain and Empower Teachers through Action, Innovation and Networking," has been partnered with the Fairfield County School District, Lexington 4 School District, and the School District of Newberry County to increase retention through mentoring and professional development.

About Newberry College

A private, residential, co-educational, college with a diverse student population, Newberry College offers baccalaureate degrees in 24 majors, 31 minors, and 27 areas of concentration. Founded in 1856 by the Lutheran Church, the college is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music. Core courses emphasize liberal arts, sciences, and technology. The college has a radio and television station, and offers 15 NCAA Division II sports. For more information, visit www.newberry.edu.

SOURCE Newberry College

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