Teachers of Tomorrow: An Effective Teacher Pipeline inNorthern Utah
In an ongoing effort to bridge students from high school tothe point of application to the Teacher Education Program; the Student SuccessAlliance Recruitment Committee has created a teacher pipeline for studentspursuing degrees from the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education atWeber State University. Thestudents are involved beginning their Junior or Senior year in high school andparticipate in the Concurrent Enrollment EDUC 1010 "ExploringTeaching" as well as the Future Educators Association (FEA). The Moyes College of Education hostsconferences in the fall and spring semesters at WSU so that students haveadditional opportunities to connect to other students, the University, as wellas to participate in a variety of workshops and competitions. After students graduate they have theopportunity to participate in the "Project Launch: Future EducatorsAcademy" or as our students fondly refer to it as "teachercamp." This is four-five dayon campus experience that jumps the students into an EDUC 2920 "Workshops& Seminars" course that follows them through their first semester atthe University and allows for the guided involvement in the University FEA-Professionalchapter.
Weber State University is one of only about a dozenUniversities in the entire country that has a Future Educators Professionalprogram coupled with a teacher pipeline program. The program here at WSU began in the spring semester of2008. Our first group of studentto participate in all aspects of the pipeline (EDUC 1010, WSU FEA Conferences,Project Launch, EDUC 2920, and FEA-Pro) became freshman students for the fallsemester of 2009. This pipelinepilot group consists of 25 students who participated in Project Launch (thereare many other students however, that the Moyes College of Education works withcoming from the Teachers of Tomorrow Program) and are now active members in theFEA-Pro Chapter.
Highlights of the program:
· EDUC 1010course allows for students interested in Education to learn the ins and outs ofthe field and gives them the opportunity to spend time doing classroomobservations at each level. Thisis important to students coming to WSU because students cannot apply to theTeacher Education program until all of their general education requirements andprerequisite coursework is completed (this can take two years). Students who have taken EDUC 1010 knowwhat it will take to become a teacher before they ever start the Teacher EducationProgram. EDUC 1010 is now aprerequisite for the Teacher Education program and all applicants must take thecourse.
· EDUC 2920allows for students to have a connection point to the University and continuedinvolvement with faculty and staff in the College of Education (that theynormally would not have worked with until they apply to the T.Ed program). Through various workshops, guestspeakers, and FEA service projects the students are given a social environmentthat encourages their continued interest in Education fields. Not to mention, support fromprofessionals on campus who make sure that students can troubleshoot anyproblems that they may have as new freshman.
· FEA-Professionalallows for age/study-appropriate professional development and scholarshipopportunities as students go through their college careers.
· ProjectLaunch is a week-long, on-campus “Teacher Camp” to bridge students fromHigh School into the College of Education.
If you have any questions about the Teachers of TomorrowProgram please contact Stephanie Heath at stephanieheath@weber.edu .
