College of Education earns $879,545 for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

March 1, 2016
JSU faculty members involved in Kids Kollege include, seated left, Dr. Tamika R. Bradley, interim associate dean in the College of Education and Human Development; and Tierra Strong, director of Kids Kollege and co-principal investigator of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. Also, standing left, are Dr. Tracey Harris, associate professor and co-principal investigator of the 21st CCLC grant; and Leontyne Snell, projects coordinator for 21st CCLC. (Photo by Justin Hardiman/JSU)
JSU faculty members involved in Kids Kollege include, seated left, Dr. Tamika R. Bradley, interim associate dean in the College of Education and Human Development; and Tierra Strong, director of Kids Kollege and co-principal investigator of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. Also, standing left, are Dr. Tracey Harris, associate professor and co-principal investigator of the 21st CCLC grant; and Leontyne Snell, projects coordinator for 21st CCLC. (Photo by Justin Hardiman/JSU)
JSU faculty members involved with the Kids Kollege grant include, seated left, Dr. Tamika R. Bradley, interim associate dean in the College of Education and Human Development; and Tierra Strong, director of Kids Kollege and co-principal investigator of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. Also, standing left, are Dr. Tracey Harris, associate professor and co-principal investigator of the 21st CCLC grant; and Leontyne Snell, projects coordinator for 21st CCLC. (Photo by Justin Hardiman/JSU)

Jackson State University’s Kids Kollege has been awarded a grant totaling $879,545 for its 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program, which was approved recently by the Mississippi Board of Education.

Over five years, Kids Kollege will offer its 21st CCLC program to serve at least 85 students at partnering institutions – Isable Elementary School, Blackburn Laboratory Middle School and Jim Hill High School.

The learning facilities will engage in after-school tutorials, summer arts, athletics and entrepreneurial programs. Specialized components of the after-school programs will include “Get Ready to Read!” at Isable; “Think-Tank Thursdays” at Blackburn; and “Saturday Academy” at Jim Hill.

Kids Kollege’s 21st CCLC program will place emphasis on character education and anti-bullying. Other benefits will include the Harris-Gambrell Reading Center and parent and family workshops. Retired Jackson Public School District teachers and retired JSU faculty and staff will address volunteering and mentoring services.

Dr. Tracy Harris and Tierra Strong, co-principal investigators, submitted the proposal for the 21st CCLC program.

The success of JSU’s program hinges on collaborative leadership from Leontyne Snell, project coordinator; Strong, director of Kids Kollege; and Harris, associate professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

The College of Education and Human Development – where Kids Kollege is housed – is led by Dr. Daniel Watkins, dean, and interim associate deans Dr. Millard Bingham and Tamika R. Bradley.