The Midstate Student Support for Teaching Program (MSS), formerly known as Project Minority Student Support for Teaching, is a partnership designed to assist the Springfield and Decatur school systems in the recruitment of teachers by establishing an articulated teacher recruitment and preparation initiative beginning at the junior year of high school and continuing through certification at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Partners in this program represent three local educational institutions, the University of Illinois at Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, Richland Community College and the two local school districts, Springfield School District 186 and Decatur School District 61.

Current Partnerships:

Decatur School District 61 Representative:

• Ms. Gloria Davis, Superintendent

Lincoln Land Community College Representatives:

• Ms. Tyra Taylor, Associate Vice-President
  Enrollment Services
• Mr. Richard Hayes, Academic Advisor & Adjunct Faculty
  Psychology

Richland Community College Representatives:

• Mr. Marcus Brown, Asst. to the Vice-President
  Student Affairs
• Ms. Eyvonne Hawkins, Instructor
  Communication, Education, Humanities & Fine Arts

Springfield School District 186 Representatives:

• Dr. Walter Milton Jr., Superintendent
• Mr. Robert Leming, Acting Director
  Human Resources & Development
• Ms. Cynthia Shambley, Asst. Director
  Human Resources

University of Illinois Springfield Representatives:

• Dr. James Ermatinger, Dean
  Education and Human Services
• Dr. Loretta F. Meeks, Professor Emeritus
  Teacher Education