The Bagwell College of Education at Kennesaw State University ranks among the nation's
top universities for educator preparation and workforce development, forging strategic
partnerships and embracing innovation. Our collaborative and inclusive culture empowers
students, faculty, and staff to thrive by fostering resilience, building confidence,
and nurturing a commitment to lifelong learning that addresses the diverse needs of
ALL learners. At Bagwell, we go beyond preparing educators; we develop visionary leaders
who elevate the profession and inspire lasting, transformative change in education.
The Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education Youth STEM Literacy Initiative and The Young People’s Project
Beginning in Summer 2025, Kennesaw State University partnered with The Young People’s Project to bring five Flagway teams to four different middle schools in the Clayton County Public School District. Flagway is a competitive relay race-style game that enforces foundational pre-Algebra concepts among middle school students. Teams are led by college students, known as College Math Literacy Workers, who are extensively trained through The Young People’s Project’s near-peer learning model. They lead practices with their middle school students up to 3 days each week and are mentored by Quincy Dawson - the Director of Youth STEM Literacy Initiatives at Kennesaw State University’s Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education. College Math Literacy Workers involved in Flagway coordinate with schools to schedule practices with their students, manage a team budget, all while mastering the Flagway curriculum to prepare their students to compete in both local and national Flagway tournaments.
Together, The Young People’s Project and Kennesaw State University use education to develop students into leaders by putting them in positions of power, which gives them a voice for how math education should be done, as well as agency to make a positive impact for themselves and others. This philosophy from The Young People’s Project began with their founder, Robert “Bob” Moses, as a Civil Rights activist in the 1960s and now lives on through students participating in math literacy work across the country.
Kennesaw State University’s math literacy work doesn’t stop at Flagway. Through partnership with Clayton County Public School, we are able to bring several math literacy programs to their students, where we put students in leadership positions. These include Math Literacy Coaching, where students coach aspiring math teachers through a teacher-credentialing program; and Joy in Math, where high school students work alongside math teachers throughout the summer to map curriculum and develop lesson plans.
