Tuskegee University & LAUSD Partner to Train Future Educators | Tuskegee University News
Tuskegee University and LAUSD Partner to Cultivate Future Educators
High school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will soon be earning coursework credit at Tuskegee University, bringing them closer to degrees in education through a new partnership between the two institutions. The collaboration also provides valuable real-world classroom experience for Tuskegee’s own preservice teachers in the nation’s second-largest school district, serving over 400,000 students.
“Tuskegee continues to embrace our Renaissance Era through fresh thinking around equipping the educators of tomorrow,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO of Tuskegee University. “Booker T. Washington’s vision for Tuskegee – an education of the hand, the heart and the head – began with attracting talented, dedicated teachers and we are translating that vision today through this partnership with LAUSD to create greater numbers of well-rounded, world-ready teachers to guide students into successful futures.”
Dr. Brooke Burks, Dean of Tuskegee’s School of Education, is leading the effort and expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting its focus on multiple pathways to education and a holistic approach to social and economic mobility.
“Our talented students will benefit immensely from classroom experiences in LAUSD schools and will grow as educators through these opportunities to both teach and learn,” Dr. Burks said. “We are also excited about strengthening the pipeline of African American teachers in LAUSD through the teacher preparation program here at Tuskegee.”
The formal commitment to the partnership was solidified during a recent meeting between Dr. Brown, and Dr. Robert Whitman, Educational Transformation Officer for LAUSD, along with other LAUSD leaders.
LAUSD officials also voiced their excitement about the deepening relationship with Tuskegee University.
“Tuskegee’s legacy of excellence has always been rooted in ensuring that students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality opportunities to succeed,” said Dr. Whitman. “LAUSD works from that same principle so this partnership is especially meaningful as we work together to equip future teachers with everything they will need to inspire students to their fullest potential.”
The partnership comes as Tuskegee University continues to invest in its academic programs and facilities. In October 2025, the university a $5.9 million investment to break ground on a new Students First REACH Center. The university also recently launched Tuskegee University Global Campus, a new online learning platform.
However, the university has faced challenges in recent years. In May 2024, a grand jury indicted ten people for theft of federal program funding from Tuskegee University, reportedly involving a multi-year scheme to defraud the university of approximately $500,000. According to a statement from Tuskegee University spokeswoman Kawana N. McGough, four former employees were terminated in 2021 upon discovery of the scheme, and the university has implemented measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama has stated its commitment to prosecuting those who exploit federal programs and institutions entrusted with their use.
In 2024, Tuskegee University also formed a partnership with California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) and UC Irvine, made possible by a $195,161 ECI grant, to support diverse student development programs.