Tag: Teacher Education

On the Road with the College of Education

UAA’s College of Education teaching team at the 2018 AA meet included, from left, Andrew Dougherty ’18, Chantele Jones ’18, Nanne Boogaerdt ’18, Erin Ingle ’19, Alex McLearen ’17 and Professor Mike Mueller. (Photo courtesy of Mike Mueller / University of Alaska Anchorage)

For a week in late April, College of Education graduate students head to Newhalen School for the Lake and Peninsula School District’s annual Academic Athletic (AA) meet. The decades-old tradition closes out each school year, bringing 7th through 12th graders together from across the 13-school district for a packed week of events, including NYO qualifiers and a career fair.

During the AA meet, Newhalen School — overlooking the shores of Lake Iliamna — is a humming hive of teenage energy. Students sleep in the classrooms at night. Prom dresses hang from the library loft and basketballs echo through the gym. Friends hang out in the hallway between classes, with their duffel bags stuffed beneath trophy cases.

Read the full article here.

Source: On the road with the College of Education – Green & Gold News

 

UA to Award Scholarship to an Aspiring Teacher

The University of Alaska is now accepting applications for the President’s Teach for Alaska Scholarship. The scholarship is in its second year and is open to any incoming undergraduate student who plans to major in education at any University of Alaska campus.

“Teachers have an immeasurable impact on the lives of our young people and we want to help the career goals of an aspiring future educator,” said UA President Jim Johnsen. “The scholarship is an important component of our emphasis on teacher education.”

The importance of cultivating the next generation of educators was emphasized by the UA Board of Regents during its March meeting in formally naming the Alaska College of Education and adopting a new organizational structure that emphasizes collaboration between teacher education programs at all three universities. Next steps include selecting an executive dean to lead the college.

The newly formed Alaska College of Education, its leadership and the scholarship are all part of the university’s plan to increase the number of teachers it prepares for Alaska’s schools.

The academic scholarship will be awarded to one applicant who is enrolled as a first-time undergraduate student and who plans to pursue a four-year degree in education. The recipient will receive $1,500 each semester for four years to attend any University of Alaska campus.

Those interested must already have applied for admission to UA and must submit both a short video and short essay explaining why they plan to pursue a degree in teacher education or what they hope to accomplish as a teacher, along with two letters of recommendation. The scholarship deadline is May 1. For information on eligibility or to apply, visit www.alaska.edu/learntoteach.

The Teach for Alaska Scholarship is funded by the university’s Land Grant Trust Endowment, which allocates funding each year for the UA Scholars program and for discretionary scholarships awarded by the university president. The endowment receives revenue from property sales and resource development — timber, gravel, gas leases, and mining — conducted on Trust lands.

Read the full article here.

Source: UA to award scholarship to an aspiring teacher – Bristol Bay Times

Alaska high schoolers to explore teaching careers

Seventy-five high school students from 11 school districts throughout Alaska gathered in Fairbanks to explore teaching careers and develop leadership skills.

The 2018 Educators Rising Alaska State Conference was held on March 25-26 on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. The conference featured activities to prepare for a teaching career, including a resume-writing workshop, job interview practice sessions and an opportunity to take college-placement tests. The conference was organized by Educators Rising Alaska in collaboration with the UAF School of Education and Rural Student Services.

Educators Rising is a national organization to help high school students explore careers in teaching. Less than half of Alaska’s teachers are prepared in-state, so Educators Rising Alaska, formerly Future Educators of Alaska, focuses on increasing the available workforce of teachers who are committed to remaining in-state.

Learn more about Educators Rising Alaska at: http://educatorsrisingalaska.org/conferences.php.

Source: UAF School of Education K-12 Outreach

Strengthening the Rural CTE Teacher Pipeline

Read the full report here.

Source: Advance CTE

Professor Briefs Business Owners on Value of Continued Education, Workforce Development

A Professor of Early Childhood Education at UAF spoke about the impact of the university’s Community and Technical College at a recent Chamber Luncheon.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – In recognition of ‘National Career and Technical Education Month’, the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce invited Professor of Early Childhood Education, Patricia Meritt, to speak on the Community and Technical College at UAF, and how it’s positively impacting Alaska’s economy. Presently, the Community and Technical College serves 2,900 students per semester and has prepared over 2,000 students for Alaska jobs in the last three years.

The Technical College offers over 40 different degrees and programs, with some reporting heavy web-based attendance, meaning students can learn from anywhere.
According to Meritt, CTC is a wise investment for the community, with one dollar of state investment returning two dollars in workforce development and education services.
When asked about the importance of keeping Alaska graduates in the state to fill jobs, Meritt said that in order to have a strong economy, we must have a strong educational system.

“We just know that a well-educated workforce is going to be one that promotes our society and builds our community so if we can grow our community by having them get education here and then become workers here and build businesses, operate childcare programs then we have a positive effective spiral for a wonderful community to live in and raise our families in.” – Patricia Meritt, Professor of Early Childhood Education

Source: Professor Briefs Business Owners on Value of Continued Education, Workforce Development – 13 KXDF Fairbanks