Ashley Clayton, PhD, and Stan Barrera, PhD, Receive $1.3M TRIO Student Support Services Grant
April 22, 2026
BATON ROUGE, LA — Ashley Clayton, PhD, and Stan Barrera, PhD, associate professors in the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education, will serve as co-principal investigators on a five-year, $1.3 million TRIO Student
Support Services – Teacher Preparation grant. Shauna Landry, EdD, director of TRIO Student Support Services at LSU, will serve as the principal investigator and project director for the initiative
designed to help undergraduate students succeed in teacher preparation programs. 
The Teacher Preparation K–12 Student Support Services (TPSSS) program will support students who are first-generation college students, Pell Grant-eligible or registered with the university’s Office of Disability Services. Many students in these populations enter college facing additional academic and financial barriers that can impact success in gateway courses, academic standing and persistence beyond the first year.
Through the program, participants will receive individualized advising and a range of academic and professional supports designed to promote persistence and timely graduation. Services include dedicated advisors, career and financial literacy workshops, free one-on-one tutoring, priority course scheduling, peer mentoring, computer and study lab access and preparation for the PRAXIS teacher certification exams. The program also aims to build a strong community among participants, helping future educators remain in good academic standing, stay on track with coursework and complete their degrees within six years.
“Having worked full time in TRIO programs, I have long believed in the power of these grants to expand access and promote student success,” Clayton said. “Now, as a faculty member in the School of Education, it is especially meaningful to help expand TRIO Student Support Services at LSU and connect that mission directly to teacher preparation. Securing additional TRIO funding has been a longstanding goal of mine, and it was deeply meaningful to collaborate on this grant with Dr. Shauna Landry and Dr. Stan Barrera.”
Clayton is an associate professor in the higher education administration program at LSU and holds the Jo Ellen Levy Yates Endowed Professorship. Her research agenda focuses on college student access and success, as well as higher education leadership and finance. She previously worked in undergraduate admissions and TRIO Upward Bound prior to her faculty career.
"For many of our education majors, the path to certification can feel overwhelming,
especially as requirements continue to change,” Barrera said. “TRIO funding empowers
the Office of Student Support Services to bridge that gap—providing targeted support
in coursework planning, specialized training, and licensure exam preparation so that
talented future teachers are not lost to complexity, but supported through completion
and into the profession—strengthening the future teacher workforce our communities
depend on.”
Barrera is an associate professor in reading and literacy and leads the Master of Arts in elementary teaching and elementary education.
“As a former TRIO Student Support Services participant, I am a grateful for the benefits I received from the program when I was an undergraduate student,” Landry said. “TRIO didn’t just help me persist; it helped me believe in my potential, find my voice and define my future. Now, as a TRIO professional, it is incredibly meaningful to be involved in the expansion of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) programs at LSU. Through the SSS-Teacher Preparation program, we hope to inspire and empower the next generation of educators, many of whom will go on to uplift other students. This funding is not just about support; it is a promise of opportunity, access, and lasting impact.”
“We created the LSU Tiger Teacher Corps to build a strong, supported pathway into the teaching profession,” LSU College of Human Sciences & Education Dean Roland Mitchell, PhD, said. “By connecting initiatives like TRIO Student Support Services with our teacher preparation programs, we’re ensuring students have the guidance, resources and sense of community they need to succeed at LSU and step confidently into Louisiana’s classrooms. The leadership of Drs. Barrera, Clayton and Landry is instrumental in bringing this vision to life and expanding opportunities for our future educators.”
LSU’s Student Support Services program is currently recruiting participants interested in the teacher preparation track. Students can learn more about the program and apply by visiting the program website.
About the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education
A school of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne
School of Education (SOE) offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue
a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification
in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE
offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate
programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE’s focus is not only on preparing
highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies
scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals,
school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly
expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.
Visit the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education website.
About LSU Tiger Teacher Corps
Tiger Teacher Corps (TTC) is a high-impact initiative representing the LSU College
of Human Sciences & Education’s bold commitment to advancing the teaching profession.
Rooted in our flagship mission to serve and impact Louisiana, TTC recruits students
to the profession, prepares them to be highly effective educators, and provides continuous
support, networking, and continuing education throughout their careers. At college,
TTC serves students via a cohort model through mentorship, early learning observations,
financial assistance, shared residential living, PRAXIS support, personal advising,
specialized first-year experience course, and employment opportunities. Retention
work does not end when our students graduate; we want to retain teachers in the profession!
After college, TTC provides induction support, continuing and professional education,
and alumni networking with the goal of our Tiger Teachers helping recruit the next
generation of educators.