Recruitment and Retention of Teachers in Rural Kentucky

1
Recruitment and Retention of Teachers in Rural
Kentucky

• Paper Presented at ACRES
• March 24, 2006
• Dr. Nedra Atwell
• Western Kentucky University

2
Beginnings.

• Western Kentucky University aspires to be the
  best comprehensive public institution in Kentucky
  and among the best in the nation. Western
  Kentucky University shall be the University of
  choice for students and faculty who are dedicated
  to academic excellence. True to the Western
  Spirit, the University offers an inviting,
  nurturing, and challenging environment, which is
  responsive to the intellectual, social, and
  cultural needs of a diverse learning community.

3
Continued.

• Western's success is reflected in the success of
  its alumni, who are known for their leadership,
  adaptability, and commitment to Western. Western
  Kentucky University prepares students to be
  productive citizens of a global society and
  provides service and lifelong learning
  opportunities for its constituents.

4
Vision of Teacher Education

• Teacher Education is a community of learners
  committed to life-long learning in their own
  lives, as well as fostering a spirit of inquiry
  in the lives of others. Teacher Education
  faculty provide a dynamic, intellectual
  environment that reflects current knowledge of
  how individuals learn and the best teaching
  practices to facilitate learning.

5
Mission of Teacher Education

•  Teacher Education at Western Kentucky University
  prepares teachers whose primary role is to
  facilitate learning of all students at high
  levels through collaboration with colleagues, the
  family, the community, or support agencies. 

6
Changing Patterns

• More middle-aged and older students.
• More variation in previous knowledge and
  experiences.
• Combination of work and education, as more
  embrace the concept of life-long learning.
• Greater student movement between colleges and
  universities.
• Better knowledge of instructional technology.

7
ARTC/MAE Effect

• Exceptional Education classes are being offered
• In the evening and at times that do not interfere
  with work schedules.
• Course and program sequences have been arranged
  so part time students can complete their programs
  in a timely manner.
• Online classes.

8
.

• Exceptional Education classes are being taught
• At off campus sites.
• Through distance education.
• Online.
• Tuition assistance is available by
• Grant support.
• Discounts for school district partners.
• Financial aid counseling. 

9
ARTC/MAE Benefits

• is much more responsive to the needs of
  mid-career professionals
• provides an additional option to teacher
  certification for recent WKU
• graduates.
• provides a more field based teacher preparation
  of study.

10
Continued

• provides richer partnerships between Kentucky
  school districts, WKU, and Kentucky citizens.
• assists the Kentucky Education Professional
  Standards Board in decreasing the emergency
  teacher certified population . 

11
EXED Collaboration

• WKU and Renaissance Grant TWS
• Student work samples.
• Additional documentation includes
• Clinical observations.
• Videos of student performance.
• Electronic portfolios.
• Sample portfolios.
• Mentor observations and notes.

12
Continued

• Advisory Council
• KTIP
• Practitioners assigned to off campus cohorts.
• Employment
• Green River Regional Education Cooperative
  (GRREC)
• Transition to Teaching Grant

13
Continued

• For students that are currently employed and
  teaching on emergency certification prior to
  program completion
• Video tapes of teaching performance.
• Expanded mentoring.
• Partnership with school district for evaluation.
• Practitioner seminars and mentoring.
• Standards based portfolio development.
• Distance education (ITV) observation.
• Extensive documentation and teacher work samples.
   

14
Results

• 447 students admitted since program beginning
  July 2002
• 50 graduated the first year
• 2 left for other professions
• 1 decided they did not want to teach
• 1 dismissed by the program for academic problems

15
Current 193 Students

• 123 are scheduled to graduate in May or August of
  this year.
• 69 are progressing toward graduation
• 1 in current academic difficulty

16
PRAXIS and GRE

• First summer and fall, 6 students were admitted
  through alternate process without required GRE
  scores.
• 4 of those 6 students have not passed PRAXIS.
• WKU requires 2200 (GAP) and 3.5 Writing
• EXED median GAP 3459 and 4.5 Writing

17
Challenges

• Staffing
• Travel to remote locations
• Traditional MAE vs. Alternative MAE
• State Budget Cuts in Education

18
Where do we go from here?

• Next Steps????