Bertie County Schools And Shaw University To Partner For Better Teachers

Article and Photos by Collins Cooper

At the Monday night meeting of the Bertie County Board of Education meeting, Dr. Chip Zullinger announced a new proposed partnership with Shaw University which is entitled Grow your own teachers. Dr. Zullinger went on to say that 1 out of 3 teachers leave before the end of the first year, that Bertie County ranks in the top 10 in teacher turnover and that surrounding counties have the same problems. One class in four will loose a teacher. It takes 45 days on average to get a new teacher in place. Every week an average of 2 out of 5 days are spent without a qualified teacher in the class room.

He then went on to present the concept of Grow your own teachers. Identify 20 of the brightest graduating seniors who want to be teachers, employee each of them as teacher cadets for 2008-2009 school year, pay their tuition to attend Shaw University in a newly created Bertie County Campus and begin their studies to become fully certified teachers with an emphasis on Math, Science and English. After graduation, they will be placed as teachers and will be employed by the County School system for a minimum of 5 years. Also sustain this Cohort effort for over a 4 year life cycle.



Dr. Clarence Newsome, President Shaw University


Why Bertie County Students?

This will create a new future for education in Bertie County and will give the ability to participate in this program to many deserving students. It will pull a student through High school with a mission to be a stronger student in order to qualify to become a teacher cadet.

Why Shaw University?

Shaw has deep roots in Bertie and surrounding counties. Shaw is uniquely qualified to understand our students and to commit to becoming part of the solution. By being a private school, Shaw is positioned to move quickly without having to go through bureaucratic entanglements. Shaw’s Current president, Dr. Clarence Newsome, a Hertford County native, understands our needs and has the ability reach out and create dynamic partnerships with other entities to increase our education capacities. Also, Shaw is very committed to help with this project. Shaw’s primary mission is to prepare teachers.



William Peele, Jr, CAPE Director, Dr Terence Leathers, and Dr. Herman E. Thomas


Dr Zullinger went on to say no one has been able to turn around situations in poverty areas. He believes the Afro-American community needs to step forward and help solve our schools problems.

The cost for salary, benefits and tuition will be around $680,000 annually for a 4 year total of $2,700,000. This will be about 7% of the yearly budget. It needs to be a budget priority. In return, the county would get 80 new teachers, 20 per year, for a 5 year commitment, a true higher education partner that is committed to our region and our students desiring to find a new solution for quality education for Bertie County kids. This would also lead to a new viable source of economic development for Bertie County and the surrounding region.

Dr. Clarence Newsome and some of his top level staff were in attendance and said that this is a very forward thinking program not only for our state, but also the nation. It fits in very well with the mission of Shaw University. He also believes that this could also lead to more partnerships not only in the United States, but world wide. Research shows that you need qualified teachers in the classroom and Shaw is willing to give 100% effort to this program. Dr. Newsome is personally committed to do something for Northeast NC since he is a native of this area. He also stated that qualified teachers can overcome inadequate resources.

He said Shaw was founded in 1865 and has partnered with universities all over the world, including 3 in China.

They hope to have the program in place at either the CG White or Southwestern facility by August of 2008.