Bridging the Gap

--------------------------------------- Choosing the 901 ---------------------------------------
Founded in 2008, MTR is a faith-based teachertraining
program that seeks to provide quality education
to students in six low-income areas in Memphis.
After successfully completing a year of graduate
coursework and an in-classroom internship, residents
receive a master’s degree in urban education through
a partnership with Union University. After receiving
their degree, MTR teachers commit to working three
additional years in a Memphis urban school. So far, the
program has 239 graduates (those who have completed
the four-year commitment) and 231 teachers currently
on staff in Memphis urban schools.
The Veteran Teacher and Administrator:
Patti Person Ray ’65
After spending 25 years of her life working in public
education, Dr. Patti Ray just can’t quit it. Even during
her 15-year tenure as Upper School Head at St. Mary’s,
she taught Union University students training to be
public school teachers. Now,
though technically retired, she
continues to teach in every area
of Union’s graduate education
program.
Since 2009, Ray has been
teaching two MTR courses: Secondary
Methods and Intensive
Content Studies, which are both
Patti Person Ray ’65 taught in the first half of the
residency. Outside of class, she
makes herself available via text message, phone, and
email and is delighted that her students reach out to
her for ideas and other support.
She credits MTR’s extensive support system for the
success of its teachers. What sets it apart from similar
programs is the common motivation among the
residents and their shared Christian call to bring about
social justice through education.
“MTR offers courses that are enlightening as to
the challenges that students face in urban schools,”
Ray said. “The students are exposed to Memphis itself,
because so many aren’t from here, and the importance
of raising the education level.”
The bottom line: MTR residents don’t have to go it
alone. They are clustered together in various schools
and even live together in Georgian Woods Apartments.
Each cohort also learns about Memphis and its history
and gets involved in the neighborhoods where they
teach.
“The city of Memphis depends on the success of its
public education,” Ray said. “At the root of it all, I’m a
teacher, and that’s still what I’m doing.”
The Prepared Newbie: Lucy Foster ’10
For Lucy Foster, living in Georgian Woods last year
as an MTR resident was unexpectedly significant. Not
only was it her first “adult” apartment, but the complex
is also where her grandmother lived when Lucy’s mom
Lucy Foster ’10
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