COLUMBUS, Miss. (CMSD) - The Columbus Municipal School District (CMSD) and Mississippi University for Women signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pave the way for more teachers to enter the classroom.
A signing ceremony was held Thursday, January 30, 2026 at Brandon Central Services Center.
The W received a Mississippi Department of Education grant through its Mississippi Teacher Residency program to help teacher candidates with tuition and other items needed for coursework.
Many of the grant awardees are working with teachers in CMSD to gain valuable skills they will soon be able to take to their own classroom.
CMSD and The W now have two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements. This second MOU will offer incentives for future educators for signing on with CMSD, as students at The W are encouraged to seek paid Assistant Teacher positions within the school district.
“Our partnership with Mississippi University for Women is a strategic response to the growing teacher shortage. By creating clear pathways for aspiring educators, we are investing in a sustainable pipeline of highly qualified teachers who are prepared to serve our students and our community. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to continuing this work as we build strong capacity and long-term support for teachers,” said CMSD Superintendent Craig Chapman.
CMSD leaders and The W believe this is a true, experience-based residency pipeline from college to K-12 classrooms.
“This partnership directly supports teacher recruitment and retention by providing early, meaningful classroom experiences paired with exceptional mentor teachers,” said Dr. Kelly Ballard, chair of the Department of Education. “Together, The W and CMSD are creating a model that not only prepares future teachers well but also supports them in staying and thriving in our local schools.”
Four students from The W are serving as MTR interns in CMSD schools.
Some photos courtesy of The W.