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The first cohort of scholars in the University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) elementary and special education online professional development community (PDC) will graduate in May. The group six started their studies at ̨Íåswag's Blue Ridge Campus and completed their student teaching segment in Fannin County, Georgia.

Last year, the scholars completed their coursework online and had placements closer to home or work.

Members of the cohort started with ̨Íåswag as freshmen in the old building on Dunbarton Farm Road before the education program existed at Blue Ridge. They transitioned to the stand-alone campus that opened for fall 2020. Sandy Ott, executive director of the Blue Ridge Campus, said the group is making history.

"Having the education program at Blue Ridge opens access and opportunities to students in our community. It shows the university's investment in the area by constantly asking what else can we do for these students," Ott said.

College of Education students are divided into four professional development communities (north, south, east, and west) because the college supports students from Gwinnett County to Blue Ridge. The north PDC students are doing their program completely online and will be graduating in May.

"The idea actually started during the pandemic, when we, as a department, were doing a lot of our placement supervision virtually because we couldn't go into the schools," Dr. Jennifer Sears, assistant professor and north PDC facilitator, said. "What if we reached out to the Blue Ridge community to see if there would be interest in doing an entire program online?" 

High school students in Fannin, Gilmer and Union counties and other nearby communities didn't see a path to higher education to get a teaching degree because they needed to stay home due to income and family reasons. If they wanted to be a part of ̨Íåswag's program, they would have to move to Dahlonega or Gainesville, creating financial difficulties, Sears said.

"Now we've created a path for these students to become teachers," Sears said.

The online program is suitable for people who want to be teachers but need to work full time, such as paraprofessionals and those seeking to change careers.

"We're hoping that more students see that this is an option for them. We have a community for them on the Blue Ridge campus and this online PDC model," Dr. Cristina Washell, department head of elementary and special education, said. "This is a way of meeting their goals as future teachers, receiving extensive field placement hours and a lot of support from their teachers." 

Students pursuing their degrees in elementary and special education in Blue Ridge now have an additional layer of support through the Sandra H. Mercier Scholarship. At least one scholarship award of $1,000 will be distributed annually, honoring Mercier's legacy by helping Fannin County students pursue their dreams of becoming educators.

Cohort member Macy Greene was awarded the first Sandra H. Mercier Scholarship. 

"The scholarship was a huge blessing for me in reaching my goal of obtaining a degree in education," Greene said. "It was an honor to receive it. I loved that I was able to be in the district that I grew up in and the same county where Sandra Mercier was a great leader of education."

Mercier was a 26-year classroom veteran in Fannin County who Copperhill, Georgia. She became an assistant principal and then director of curriculum. Mercier earned a master's degree in education in 1980, taking night classes and teaching full time. She was the first woman to serve as superintendent of schools in Fannin County in 2002. After retirement, she served on the Fannin County Board of Education for several years.

"We truly appreciate the generosity of our community and the Mercier family," Ott said. "The students who receive this scholarship will have an impact on generations, just like Mrs. Mercier did. She was an amazing lady who loved this community and its children."