Donna Wake, assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, was recently selected as technology liaison for the National Writing Project, Northwest Arkansas site.
Patty Phelps, professor in the Department of Teaching & Learning and faculty coordinator (IDC), has been invited to present at the 2011 Teaching Professor Conference in Atlanta. In this encore presentation she will share ways to find joy in teaching. The conference targets faculty in all disciplinary areas and attracts an international audience.Program Supports National Board Certification of Over 300 Teachers
The College of Education received $8,250 from the Arkansas Department of Education Office of Teacher Quality to support 45 area school teachers who are candidates for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification, an advanced teaching credential that complements a state-issued teaching license. This grant coupled with a $20,000 grant directly from NBPTS is awarded to recruit teachers in high need schools to seek NBPTS certification.
The UCA NBPTS Candidate Support Center has received more than $150,000 in state and federal support since 2002 and has supported the successful Board Certification of more than 300 teachers. Dr. Carolyn Williams has obtained funding for the program for many years, and administers the program for the College of Education.
The UCA NBPTS Candidate Support Center offers intensive professional development sessions over eight months. The on-site support is augmented by electronic mentoring and an overnight retreat for teacher candidates and their mentors. Both on-site and electronic mentoring sessions are provided by National Board Certified Teachers and providers.
National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential that complements, but does not replace, a state’s teaching license. Candidates achieve National Board Certification upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do. There are 1,399 Board Certified teachers in the state of Arkansas.
NAECTE Affiliate Chapter Coming to Arkansas
The National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) has recently approved an Arkansas affiliate. The newly formed Arkansas Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (AAECTE) was organized by Drs. Candice Barnes and Rene Crow, along with Dr. Sara Davis from University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The focus and vision of this organization is to: build strength among early childhood teacher educators in the state, promote professional development and growth among the membership, provide a forum to discuss and act upon challenges facing the early childhood community, and be a strong voice for early childhood education in the state of Arkansas and beyond. If you are interested in learning more about AAECTE, please contact Dr. Candice Barnes at cbarnes@uca.edu. AAECTE is planning to hold its first meeting Jan. 20, 2011. More information is forthcoming.
Rockefeller Foundation Commissions White Papers from Mashburn Center Faculty
The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has formally established an agreement with the Mashburn Center for Learning to write three comprehensive white papers that examine what is working in Arkansas to increase graduation rates at two-year colleges, four-year universities, and high schools.
A fourth comprehensive white paper will focus on what is and is not working in Arkansas to improve STEM education, with specific focus on the impact of STEM education on graduation rates. The WR Foundation has asked the Mashburn team, Drs. Mark Cooper, Patty Kohler-Evans, and Lisa Daniels and Ms. Renee Calhoon, to investigate interventions that impact hard to retain students and marginalized populations attending two-year colleges or four-year universities, students attending high-poverty high schools, and low income, minority, and rural students participating in STEM education.
The WR Rockefeller Foundation has instituted a multi-year strategic plan that builds on WRF’s 35 year history of grant-making. The multi-year strategic plan is called Moving the Needle. The ultimate goal of the foundation is to move from the nation’s bottom five in economic and education indicators to one of the nation’s highest ranking states. Dr. Cooper, director of the Mashburn Center for Learning, finds that the WR Foundations mission and the Mashburn Center for Learning mission is completely aligned.
The Mashburn Center for Learning team is very excited to participate in this strategic alliance with WRF due to the special focus on improving education for challenged learners attending high schools, two-year-colleges, and four-year institutions.
Teaching and Learning Department Announces New Master’s Degree Program
The Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education is excited to offer a new master’s degree program developed for today’s classroom teachers, particularly teachers seeking their National Board Certification and teachers who are expanding their professional careers through teacher leadership positions. This new degree program is titled Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership.
Teacher leadership has emerged as a vital topic in contemporary education. In the era of accountability, classroom teachers are fulfilling many different leadership roles in their areas of service, and this new degree program focuses on the ever-changing roles and responsibilities of teachers as leaders within their classrooms, schools, and districts. Classroom teachers now serve as instructional coaches or leaders, policymakers, department chairs, and directors of learning communities. The unique curriculum, instruction, and assessments woven throughout this program inform and support teachers to enhance their efficacy and to equip them for the 21st century. Plus, the entire program is aligned to the standards set forth by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Completing the ASTL master’s program will position teachers for successful completion of their National Board certification.
The new ASTL program offers two special features. One, teachers may choose to study one of four tracks. The four tracks include early childhood education, middle level education, instructional facilitation, and content expertise. With some tracks, teachers may add additional endorsements, such as middle level and instructional facilitator, to their standard teaching licenses. Second, this new degree program is designed for today’s busy teachers. The program provides flexibility for practicing classroom teachers by offering most of the courses one of three ways: online format, hybrid format (half face-to-face with half online), or Saturday courses. Through the new Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership master’s degree program, today’s classroom teachers can increase their educational professionalism and broaden their career opportunities.