TEA awards $8.75 million grant

The University’s Ingenuity Center has been awarded an $8.75 million grant to improve student performance in middle schools and ultimately develop higher levels of both college and career readiness, according to a press release.

The Texas Education Agency will award the grant over a five-year period thanks to the work of Dr. Michael Odell, the Ingenuity Center’s executive director and the University’s director of research.

Odell earned the grant – the largest in the University’s history – for his successful work record in this field and his highly-regarded grant application, according to the release.

The University will administer programs funded by the grant at Tyler and Fruitvale Independent School Districts and has already begun programs at Tyler ISD’s Boulter Engineering Prep Middle School, Dogan Middle School and Stewart Middle School, the release states. Plans are underway to begin programming in Fruitvale ISD soon.

“I just can’t say enough about the hard work the UT Tyler and Tyler ISD administrations devoted to bring all of the pieces together,” Odell said in the release.

The University worked with Tyler Independent School District to open the program with the start of school.

“This grant will be transformational for some schools. It begins immediately and provides funds to both UT Tyler faculty and students as well as middle school teachers at Tyler and Fruitvale ISDs,” President Mabry said in the release. “Teachers and UT Tyler students will work together providing afterschool projects that will improve student academic outcomes in science and math areas, as well as reading.”

The afterschool projects, called University Academies, are designed to offer direct afterschool academic assistance, as well as significant enrichment opportunities to disadvantaged middle school students.

“Tyler ISD principals and educators are very excited about this program,” said Jeff Collum, Tyler ISD executive director for secondary education, in the release. “They, along with our transportation department, custodial staff, food services and the district police, have all contributed to make this possible.”

The University Academies will soon begin offering adult education classes for family members of afterschool students. All services are provided at no charge to the students or family members.

This is UT Tyler’s largest single service project, according to the release.

“With this grant, UT Tyler also will be adding at least six full-time positions to the local economy as well as around 20 half-time positions for students. We plan to expand this program to be as beneficial as possible to as many possible. Efforts are already underway to include elements of the project in our education, psychology and counseling classes,” President Mabry said in the release.