Diverse Pathways in Teacher
Preparation
A Teacher Quality Partnership funded by Title
II
Communications list
Project’s schools
CERRA is in partnership with USC Columbia, College of Charleston, Midlands
Technical College, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, Trident Technical
College, Charleston Schools, Richland One Schools and BellSouth Corporation.
The primary goal of this project is to support the
development of a highly qualified teaching force in South Carolina that reflects
the diversity of the state's population. The partnership includes two
universities with comprehensive teacher education programs, three 2-year
colleges, two high-needs school districts, the BellSouth Corporation, and CERRA
(Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement).
Because more than 50% of college-attending
minority students begin their study at 2-year institutions, a partnership such
as ours proposes a strategy to increase the number of minorities in the teaching
profession.
Student
recruitment and support along with early, meaningful clinical experiences will
be major focuses. A Professional Learning Community concept ensures the success
of students progressing from pre-college recruitment, to their initial entry
into 2-year colleges, through the completion of certification requirements, and
into their induction into the teaching profession.
Year One of the project involves a "proof-of concept" phase encompassing the
Columbia area partnership led by the USC teacher preparation program enhanced by
support from the previous Teacher Quality Enhancement grant. P-12 schools will
be selected to host clinical experiences for students in the 2-year colleges and
project staff will work to support professional development activities in those
schools. During Year Two, a parallel partnership in the Charleston area will
pursue activities proven successful in year one. In Years Three through Five,
all partners in collaboration with the state Department of Education and the
Commission on Higher Education will disseminate the program to other teacher
education institutions and 2-year colleges.
According to Dr. Teri Kuhs, Professor in the Department of Instruction and
Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina, one of the architects of
the grant, South Carolina needs to develop a highly qualified teaching force
that is “more diverse considering ethnicity, race and, socio-economic
status.” What participation in this program offers to future teachers
through this path is a “face, place and support system.” To insure the right
classes are taken, academic support staff has been trained to help students gain
access to materials and both the four and two year institutions have initiated
strategies to have ongoing communication with the students.
One major role of CERRA is a focused recruitment effort in the Midlands and
in other parts of the state through the Teacher Cadet Program – making it
available to a broader range of student groups.
For more information about the Diverse Pathways in Teacher
Preparation program, contact Dr.
Jane Zenger at zengerj@gwm.sc.edu
Teacher
Quality Collaborative
@ The University of South Carolina
College of Education | Wardlaw Building 217 | Columbia, SC | (803)
777-6239
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