Francis Marion University - School of Education

FMU Center of Excellence
Grant Proposal Narrative

2. Proposal Narrative

e. Institutional Strengths

The School of Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Science at Francis Marion University have actively collaborated with Pee Dee Region Schools, K-12 for over thirty years. Recent projects include Swamp Fox Writing Project, a four-year PT3 grant that allowed FMU to collaborate with local schools to improve technology in the classroom, Math-Science Partnerships with Sumter School District 17, and Physics Institute.

A major strength for FMU is the collaborative effort between the School of Education and College of Liberal Arts and Science. The Deans and the faulty of the two units have collaborated in many recent projects relating to public education in the Pee Dee Region. FMU has offered nearly 500 professional development courses to over 7,000 area teachers in the last 5 years. Faculty from all units at FMU have participated in these courses. Faculty in the School of Education have had extensive experience, in both teaching and research, working with special needs students and students from impoverished backgrounds.

Another major strength of this institution is the close working relations with the Pee Dee Education Center. The Board of Directors includes the Dean of the School of Education and the eighteen school district superintendents. Many collaboration efforts are on-going between the Pee Dee Education Center and FMU. Another strength of FMU is its geographical location. It is the regional university for this rural, impoverished Pee Dee area.

Finally, the Co-Directors are a major strength. Drs. Pawloski and Whitmire have extensive experience in the public schools both as classroom teachers and as professors working with teachers and students to improve education. Dr. Whitmire has sixteen years of classroom experience teaching mathematics, mostly in rural, impoverished schools. Dr. Pawloski served on the research team that developed the planning, implementation, and evaluation components for South Carolina’s First Steps Initiative.