(Above) The University of Evansville School of Education recognizes the vital importance of K-12 Partners in highly effective educator preparation.
Alison Jones, Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Evansville
Shari Millikan, Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of Evansville
Michelle Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
To attract, prepare, and retain talented aspiring educators, the University of Evansville School of Education (SOE) and their largest K-12 school partner, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), collaborated to write a $1.49 million federal grant proposal. This partnership bridges the gap between pedagogy and clinical practice; additionally, the partnership supports aspiring and current educators while aligning with the Nine PDS Essentials (NAPDS, 2021).
Attract
To attract new teachers, the SOE created two new programs: the Transition to Teaching (T2T) alternative licensure program for those with an undergraduate degree expanded to include an elementary licensure option; additionally, the Masters of Science in Educational Leadership (MSEd) program was launched. Funding from this grant provided scholarships for those entering the T2T and MSEd programs. The Indiana Department of Education approved both programs in May 2023. To date, 92 students have benefitted from the grant funds; all are employed in the EVSC.
Prepare
SOE students expand their knowledge and develop skills through clinical experiences in partner school classrooms, with over 1,000 hours of clinical experience during their time at UE. One student shared, “We begin to think like a classroom teacher during our first semester.”
The vast and varied clinical experiences effectively prepare School of Education students for their future classrooms.
Clinical experiences are designed with school partner input to ensure growth in teacher effectiveness; open dialog between the partners is essential to the success of SOE’s aspiring educators. To further support aspiring educators, grant funding covered the cost of licensure preparation and testing for all SOE student teachers.
Retain
The SOE and partner schools collaborate to provide ongoing support and create opportunities through career advancement. Grant funding is available to cover the costs of professional conference attendance for in-service teachers. To promote retention and grow the pool of school leaders in Indiana, the SOE developed the MSEd program to support current teachers in their journey toward professional advancement. After meeting Indiana Department of Education licensure requirements, this accelerated one-year MSEd program leads to an Indiana building-level administrator’s license; 42 educators have benefitted from the grant funding covering the program’s cost.
The robust and evolving partnership between the SOE and partners such as EVSC contributes to growth in attracting, preparing, and retaining teachers. These multi-layered opportunities provide a foundation of skills and support for aspiring educators from recruitment to retirement.
References
National Association of Professional Development Schools. (2021). What it means to be a professional development school: The nine essentials (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: [Policy Statement].