Lt. Governor Burt Jones Supports New Savannah State University Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 28, 2025

ATLANTA |Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones issued a statement in support of the new elementary education program at Savannah State University. The program was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) in September of last year and will be launched in Fall 2025. 

“My mother was a public educator, and I experienced firsthand how critical teachers are to the development and overall wellbeing of children,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “I want to thank Savannah State University, Interim President Alexander, Chancellor Perdue, and everyone involved to make this new program available to the benefit of the Savannah and Chatham County communities. This initiative will help address the shortage of elementary school teachers across the state, and I look forward to supporting this program and expanding on this great work in the future.” 

“With Georgia’s need for elementary school teachers growing faster than most states in the nation, expanding Savannah State’s teacher education program helps not only the local community but school districts statewide,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Savannah State’s legacy in preparing future educators has never been more important. We’re grateful for Lt. Governor Burt Jones’s support as we launch a program that will increase Georgia’s teaching workforce and ultimately have a positive learning impact on students during the most formative years of their life.”

“I want to thank Lt. Governor Jones for supporting Georgia’s first historically black university,” said Senator Derek Mallow (D – Savannah). “Programs like these are vital to our overall success as a state, and I look forward to working with Savannah State University on future programs like this one.”

Savannah State University serves more than 3,200 students and is the first public historically Black university in the State of Georgia. President Cynthia Robinson Alexander began her tenure as Interim President of Savannah State University on July 1, 2023 and effective April 1, 2025, Dr. Jermaine Whirl will serve as President of Savannah State University. 

For additional information on the program and Savannah State University, please follow this link: https://www.savannahstate.edu/coe/index.shtml