STEM teachers from around the Delta participated in a four-day program at Delta State designed to aid them in bringing innovative teaching methods to their classrooms.CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University recently hosted the annual Collaborative for Rural STEM Education (CRSE) Teacher Professional Development Conference, held June 9–12.
Now in its second year, the CRSE program is a transformative initiative focused on strengthening STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in rural Mississippi through intensive support for educators. Fully funded through a U.S. Department of Education grant made possible by Congressional earmarks supported by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker, CRSE equips teachers with the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support necessary to elevate student learning in Delta classrooms.
This year’s summer conference marks a pivotal moment as Delta State celebrates the completion of the first cohort’s yearlong journey—culminating in teacher presentations—while also welcoming a second group of participating educators to begin their training. The program’s design ensures individualized support through needs assessments and tailored resources, with teachers organized into content-specific cohorts.
Jessica Hardy, Project Director for CRSE, reflected on the momentum the program has built:
“We are thrilled to watch our first cohort of teachers present the powerful work they’ve done over the past year. Their growth and creativity are inspiring. At the same time, we’re excited to welcome a new group of educators who are eager to transform their classrooms with hands-on STEM instruction. This program is a testament to what can happen when teachers are truly supported.”
CRSE originally launched in June 2024 with 22 teachers from 11 school districts and has included in-person workshops, Saturday sessions, and on-site classroom visits throughout the academic year. The collaborative is led by a dedicated team of faculty and staff, including faculty instructors Dr. Tanya McKinney, Dr. Maria Weber, Dr. Lee Dean, and Dr. Daphne Smith, along with administrative assistant Kendra Whitehead.
“I’m so thankful and honored to be a part of Delta State University’s Collaborative for Rural STEM Education,” said Tammie Marlow, a STEM teacher at Cleveland Central Middle School.
Marlow praised CRSE Director Jessica Hardy and the entire team for their dedication and thoughtful planning, noting that each teacher receives classroom supplies tailored to their specific needs. She added that the expert-led training equips educators to maximize the impact of those resources on student learning.
Other participants shared their thoughts about the program. Camellia Jenkins, a math teacher at Shaw High School said, “This program has been amazing, especially with the manipulatives that I am able to use in my classroom.”
Jenkins stated that she often had issues gathering enough materials to use in larger classrooms, and that the program provided technology that she otherwise wouldn’t have access to. “I’d never had robots before. So they helped me make learning very much more interesting.”
Melanie Hardy teaches 6th grade math and science at Yazoo County Middle School. She said, “I have been teaching for 30 years, so I am always looking for new ideas to implement into my classroom. CRSE not only gives me those new ideas but also gives me the tools that I need to implement them.”
Delta State University remains committed to advancing rural education through innovative, research-based practices. The university looks forward to the continued success of the CRSE program as it expands its impact throughout the region.
For more information, please contact Jessica Hardy, Project Director, Collaborative for Rural STEM Education at (662) 846-4891 or by email at jnhardy@deltastate.edu.
