ULM School of Education receives $30K grant from Regions Foundation at annual Elevate Education campus day

Published April 16, 2026

A group of people from ULM and the Regions Foundation hold a large check and smile.

CAPTION:ÌýPictured L-R:ÌýDr. John Pratte,ÌýDean of the ULM College of Arts, Education, and Sciences; Dr. Amy Weems, Associate Professor and Director of Elevate Education; Kevin Smith, Market Executive for Regions Bank; Dr. Myra Lovett, Director of theÌýULM School ofÌýEducation; Roxanne Smith, Director of Grants and Scholarships, ULM FoundationÌýÌý


MONROE, La.Ìý–Ìý³ÉÈ˶¶Òô School of Education held its annual Elevate Education campus visit day for local high school students on April 1, 2026. During the closing ceremony of the event,Ìýthe Regions Foundation presented a donation of $30,000 toÌýthe School of Education to helpÌýsupport the continuingÌýefforts of the Elevate Education program to build a pre-educator pipeline for local high school students interested in becoming educators.ÌýÌý

Throughout the Elevate Education campus visit day, students from 16 local high schoolsÌýparticipatedÌýin round table discussions and campus tours where they learned more about pursuing education as a career and how ULMÌýequips future educators.ÌýÌý

Now in its 7thÌýyear, the Elevate Education program exists to create a pathway for students to pursue careers in education, providing them with the opportunityÌýtoÌýlearn from ULM faculty,Ìýadministrators, and alumniÌýbefore enrolling in college.ÌýÌý

Dr. Amy Weems is an Associate Professor of Education at ULM and the Director of Elevate Education. “We are excited to see the impact of this long-term commitment to growing the educator workforce pipeline,â€� said Weems. “We are seeing how our high school pre-educators have enrolled in educator preparation programs and are mentoring their classmates. We have had collegiate pre-educators graduate and excel in K12 classrooms as new teachers of the year and even as pre-educator instructors for the next generation of high school pre-educators,â€� she added.ÌýÌý

Kevin Smith, Market Executive for Regions Bank, spoke to the students in attendance on behalf of the Regions Foundation. “WeÌýknow that educators are the foundation ofÌýbuildingÌýa strong community.ÌýYour education matters, and what you put into your education will help guide yourÌýfuture,â€� said Smith.ÌýÌý

“We are incredibly thankful for the support we have received from Regions Bank over the past five years. Their impact has allowed us to bring our dreams for recruiting, mentoring, and collaborating with pre-educator partners to life. We are excited to now partner with the Regions Foundation to continue investing in the future of the educator workforce and our next generation of students who need the best teachers in their classrooms,â€� said Weems.ÌýÌýÌý

Elevate Education partner schools include Carroll High School, Neville High School,ÌýWossmanÌýHigh School, Vidalia High School, Delhi High School, Mangham High School, Rayville High School, Ouachita Parish High School, Sterlington High School, West Monroe High School, Franklin Parish High School, Oak Grove High School, Caldwell Parish High School, Bastrop High School, MSA East, Plaquemine High School, North Webster High School, and Lakeside High School.ÌýÌý

Learn more about the ULM School of Education atÌý.Ìý