The EMPOWER project, funded by the United States Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition, is a five-year, multi-pronged effort at Towson University to build capacity, within the College of Education and in the community, for serving our increasing population of English learner (EL) students.
Our goals:
- Create a model set of schools, responsive to full continuum of ELs’ linguistic, cultural and instructional needs.
- Develop, implement and disseminate coursework for preservice educators seeking elementary/elementary-special education certification in order to improve their readiness to serve ELs.
- Effect systemic change in TU’s teacher education model by designing, offering and disseminating an innovative M.Ed. program that combines ESOL, leadership skills and responsive decision-making and identification.
- Incorporate and disseminate family and community engagement strategies across all areas of EMPOWER programming.
Our partners:
The EMPOWER project is an initiative of the College of Education at Towson University. Our partner schools, Monarch Global Academy in Laurel and Monarch Academy Annapolis, are contract schools operated by the Children’s Guild in partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. We will also collaborate with Anne Arundel County Public Schools on identifying needs and offering professional development programming.
Our team:
Dr. Patty Rice Doran is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the EMPOWER project. She is joined by co-PIs Dr. Elizabeth Neville and Dr. Gilda Martinez-Alba. The project evaluation is led by Dr. Raymond Lorion of the Center for Application and Innovative Research in Education (CAIRE), who is joined by Dr. Greg Knollman. Our Project Manager is Mrs. Danielle Turner.
