PRIZE Signing Day: High School Seniors Sign Pledge to Become Teachers
On June 26, Marissa Herring (pictured, left, Kennett High School) and Faith Bullen
(right, Avon Grove High School) signed commitment declarations to pursue academic
journeys that will lead to careers as future teachers in the region.
These students are on their way to becoming excellent educators through West Chester University’s Partnering in Raising Inclusive, Zealous Educators Program, or PRIZE Program.
WCU’s College of Education & Social Work developed the PRIZE Program to address the national teacher pipeline shortage by collaborating with school districts to cultivate exceptional educators who, following their graduation from WCU, have agreed to return to PRIZE school districts to teach.
This fall, Herring will begin her journey as an early grades/special education major and Bullen will pursue music education. Two other students who have committed to becoming teachers through the PRIZE Program were unable to attend the ceremony: Imanni Barrett (Kennett High School) and Faith Constein (Antietam High School).
In keeping with this “grow-our-own” concept, 18 rising high school seniors attended the event. They are participating in WCU’s PRIZE Summer Teacher Academy, a one-week on-campus experience for high school students interested in the teaching profession and taking a one-credit education technology course. Academy students plan to pursue teacher preparation at WCU one day and eventually become educators in their own school districts much like the peers they watched during the signing ceremony. Current WCU education majors mentor the high school students.
Since its inception, there have been 69 PRIZE high school dual-enrollment participants. Additional PRIZE students are being admitted to the program on a rolling basis for the 2025-2026 academic year. To date, the following school districts have partnered with the PRIZE Program:
- Avon Grove School District
- Chester-Upland School District
- Coatesville Area School District
- Colonial School District
- Commonwealth Charter Academy
- Kennett Consolidated School District
- New Hope-Solebury School District
- Oxford Area School District
- Rose Tree Media School District
- School District of Philadelphia
- Susquehanna Township School District
Associate Dean of WCU’s College of Education & Social Work Dr. Maria Stetter and PRIZE Program Director Dr. Katie Solic presided over the signing, which took place at the West Chester University Foundation.
The PRIZE Program is supported by such generous sponsors as the Chester Community Charter School, Justamere Foundation, Rob Dash, Esq. and Debbie Dash, as well as others.
For more information about WCU’s PRIZE Program, visit https://www.wcupa.edu/education-socialWork/prize/