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UD tapped as latest path for alternative teaching license
COLUMBUS - Citing a need for more science and math teachers Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro tapped the University of Dayton as one of seven Ohio schools that will offer a new route for working professionals to enter teaching.
Arthur Levine, president of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, said the Ohio Teaching Fellowship will start with 65 fellows and is expected to grow to 375 teachers who will reach 375,000 students over their careers. The fellows include recent graduates, working scientists and long-time professionals looking for a career change.
“These fellows are amazing,” Levine said during a statehouse news conference Tuesday. “They have grades and honors my parents only dreamed of from me.”
The program is the latest example of how Ohio universities and state lawmakers are responding to a national push to offer more alternative licensing and quicker pathways for people who want to teach. “If you look at the public discourse about teaching, this is what the state wants and what a lot of our critics want us to do - brake down barriers to teaching,” said Kevin Kelly, dean of the UD school of education and allied professions.
Last month, Gov. John Kasich signed legislation that will allow recent graduates from the nation’s premier universities the ability to teach in low-income schools by 2012 as part of the national Teach for America program.
TFA has been controversial because “corps members” receive only five weeks of training before heading into the classroom where they get continued mentor support. Fellows of the Woodrow Wilson program will receive a year of university-led classroom training before teaching on their own.
“Our program will be tailored to quickly get them into the classroom,” said Kelly. “It gives (schools) freedom to be creative in their programs. It also shows significant investment is needed.”
The Woodrow Wilson program began last year at four Ohio schools which will enroll 65 fellows each receiving $30,000 stipends funded by the Woodrow Wilson foundation. The program is supported by a number of other state charitable groups and federal Race to the Top money.
UD, Ohio University and the University of Toledo join John Carroll University, Ohio State University, University of Akron and University of Cincinnati, which are enrolling the first group later this year. UD expects its first students to start next summer and be in area classrooms by 2013. The program also exists in Michigan and Indiana.
The newly minted teachers could face a tough job market if school funding woes persist. Teachers in STEM fields often come from a small pool of candidates, but most districts are reducing staff instead of hiring, said Damon Asbury, director of legislative services for the Ohio School Boards Association.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Colleges and Universities
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By appalled!
May 22, 2011 1:28 PM | Link to this
Nancy & Burn Free… You and people with your view of teachers are the reason we have such issues getting the right teachers into classrooms where they can really make a difference! Teachers are overpaid, overeducated and greedy??!!! What UN-American things to say! You’ve obviously never been in an inner-city school!! What a shame.
By Been there
May 17, 2011 8:00 PM | Link to this
I received my Alternative Educator’s License in 2005 and while it did allow me to teach, it also prevented me from getting another teaching job when I was laid off in 2006. Schools want teachers who are experienced, not poorly trained and looking for a career change. It actually cost districts more, because many AEL educators require mentoring and other remediation. All this program will do is create an even larger gap in the proficiency of our students in the STEM fields.
By Nancy
May 17, 2011 5:24 PM | Link to this
Best idea! Saves millions for the taxpayer.Better teachers with outstanding records.Teachers are overpaid and never satisfied. This is the answer.
By Burn Free
May 17, 2011 5:18 PM | Link to this
This is a great program for the Dayton area.Smarter and more successful students are part of Teach for America in other states.They will save the taxpayers millions as it grows to a statewide program that improves the quality of teachers and saves our finances.Teachers currently are overeducated and overpaid and greedy.Bout time this is implemented.