Partnership Middle School Principal, Joshua Yeager, leads a professional development session for teachers in training.
On Friday, August 1, Partnership Middle School Principal Joshua Yeager led an interactive professional development session for college juniors from Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi who are studying to become teachers. The Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP) Fellows convened for the annual Residential Institute, and 55 College of Education students participated in dynamic week-long academic and professional learning experiences designed to provide training, resources and interaction with in-service education professionals and university faculty.
"It was both humbling and energizing to spend time with Mississippi's top 50 future educators –– leaders in the making, chosen to carry the mantle of excellence," Yeager said. "These candidates don't just want to teach, they're preparing to transform, be agents of change, and reimagine classrooms in ways our profession desperately needs."
Funded by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, METP is a partnership between MSU and Ole Miss designed to create a competitive "honors college-style" learning experience for high performing college students in the field of education. The goal of the program is to create and support a growing pipeline of educators in training within the state of Mississippi. METP fellows from both universities have participated in real-world activities for students at Partnership Middle School in past years. The school, which is a partnership with Mississippi State University, serves 6th and 7th grade students, providing an opportunity for education majors with both an elementary and secondary focus to gain quality experience.
Yeager, who joined the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's administrative team in July, led METP fellows in an interactive session to redefine what it means to be a teacher through the practitioner's lens. The exercise is similar to ones he has also led with his own faculty at Partnership Middle School to help them develop a teacher "voice" and embrace the opportunity to become builders of the craft of teaching and change-makers in their classrooms. Through his METP session, fellows engaged in real-world problem solving and discussions, and also were able to access a toolkit of usable resources designed for classroom success.
"When educators view themselves as practitioners –– reflective, relentless and research-driven –– we stop reacting to challenges and start reshaping the future," Yeager said. "It brought tears to my eyes to hear what the METP fellows presented and the vision they have for the future."
The METP Residential Institute emphasizes interactivity, collaboration, effective communication and relationship-building. The teachers in training explored innovative instructional strategies shared by accomplished classroom educators and gained deeper insight into the teaching profession through interactions with local school leaders like Yeager. In addition to advancing their professional knowledge, fellows also developed a strong sense of camaraderie and connection across institutions, enriching both their personal and professional growth.
The opportunity to support and work with budding teachers is just one way the partnership between MSU and SOCSD reveals itself at Partnership Middle, a school that is unique in the nation in that it serves all middle school students across the district rather than acting as a magnet school targeting only a few. This comprehensive approach was a key element in the school's conception, and the facility is designed to provide a dynamic environment for K-12 students while also facilitating observation and interactive professional development opportunities for both in-training and in-service teachers.
Beyond, the significant resources for teacher training, the school also provides unprecedented opportunities for middle school students to benefit from being on a college campus. From hallway displays provided by campus museums to departmental tours that spur career exploration to fine arts and academic presentations from MSU faculty, 6th and 7th graders gain a richer experience of cultural activities as well as their classroom lessons through the interaction with MSU faculty and staff. Some MSU departments even facilitate weekly clubs for middle school students to allow them to explore their academic interests with hands-on activities. In addition, all 6th grade students participate in a walking tour of MSU each year, a new experience for many students even though they may only live a few miles from campus.
These examples of partnership have created an award-winning environment for learning at the school. In May 2025, Partnership Middle School earned a Governor's Award from the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education (MAPE) –– the only middle school in the state to receive the honor for this year. The award recognizes the significant benefit to students and the greater community that is found through partnerships of this kind.
SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee says it's a partnership the district has seen grow through the years.
"Our students are the real beneficiaries of the partnerships the district has built with Mississippi State University, and it's more than just field trips," he says. "We've seen the success of rich collaborations at Partnership Middle, but also through experiences like our Jacket Strings program and our piano labs as well as opportunities like the Early Honors course and Base Pair research program. These show that the partnership is providing opportunities that students may not be able to experience otherwise."
For Yeager, this opportunity to collaborate and build partnerships that can impact individual students and public education as a whole resonated and was a key reason he chose to join the team. He circles back to his session and his belief in the vital role of teachers as practitioners of learning.
"At Partnership Middle School, we've embraced a practitioner mindset, and I'm committed to making sure it's embedded in everything we do," he said. " As the state's premiere laboratory school –– a true partnership between a university and a local school district –– we operate on the cutting edge of what's possible in public education. METP represents the future, and we are honored to serve as the proving ground for it."
