Our mission:

Turn exceptional college graduates into excellent teachers.

The Mississippi Teacher Corps (MTC) selects exceptional college graduates to teach in high-poverty public schools in Mississippi. MTC provides training, support, certification, and a full scholarship for a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Mississippi. During the school year, participants receive full pay and benefits from their school district and attend graduate classes at the University of Mississippi.

Each year, MTC accepts between 25-35 candidates.  Due to the size of the program, MTC can offer individualized support. All participants move as a cohort through each stage of the training and coursework.

Our History

Founded in 1989, the Mississippi Teacher Corps sets out to be the nation's best alternate-route teaching program.

Dr. Andy Mullins and Ms. Amy Gutman helped establish the Mississippi Teacher Corps in 1989. At the time, Mullins worked for the State Department of Education and Gutman was studying journalism at Harvard University.

In brainstorming ideas of how to fill the impending teacher shortage in the Mississippi Delta, Ms. Gutman came up with the idea for the Mississippi Teacher Corps, a program founded on the ideals of the Peace Corps, in which recent college graduates from all over the United States would come and teach in Mississippi.

Initially, the Mississippi Teacher Corps was a one-year program funded by several foundations. Under Dr. Mullins' leadership, the structure of MTC was altered substantially in 1993. The program required a two-year commitment and relocated to the University of Mississippi. Additionally, a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum & Instruction was added to the program’s requirements. In 1994, the program became fully funded by the Mississippi Legislature.

Under Dr. Mullins' stewardship, MTC has accepted more than 460 graduates who have taught in critical-needs school districts as part of the Mississippi Teacher Corps.