by Alisha Newell
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded over $34 million in grants to help improve teacher preparation programs. One of those programs includes the University – School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (U.S. Prep) which consists of six southern and southeastern teacher preparation centers, one of them housed at Jackson State University.
The goal of these programs is to develop, pilot and scale effective teacher-preparation practices to help ensure that more teacher-candidates graduate ready to improve student outcomes in K-12 public schools.
Aside from JSU, other universities benefiting from the $7 million grant includes the University of North Texas, University of Houston, University of Memphis Southeastern Louisiana University and Texas Tech University as the fiscal agent and the location of the national center. The collaboration has also expanded to include universities that want to engage in teacher preparation transformation.
The College of Education and Human Development graduated its first body of teacher candidates in the spring of 2017. The U.S. Prep Teacher Transformation pilot required teacher candidates to complete a one-year clinical residency instead of the traditional one-semester teacher preparation internship.
Students were provided with weekly coaching and feedback by a clinical faculty member, which replaces the traditional university supervisor model.
“We have a greater duty to our students and our community,” said DuShane Lockett, a USPREP Graduate. “As teachers, we are the first line of defense. We carry the ball, and if we drop it, we drop everything.”
Mentor teachers also felt that the program gave incoming teachers a more hands-on experience. Sixth grade educator Mashanda Thomas said, “I had never had a teacher candidate to be with me for the entire year. You’re able to see them transform from a student to a professional.”
Transformation is rewarding but challenging work that involves opportunities for professional growth and development for university faculty and staff, along with strategic support from the US PREP National Center.
Jackson State University’s Dean of Education, Daniel Watkins, expressed his belief that the program is an excellent step in leading the community forward.
Watkins said, “The benefit for Jackson State University and Jackson Public Schools is that when students leave our program, they will go back into Jackson Public Schools with one year’s experience. USPREP gives us the methodology and strategies to ensure that we are on the ‘cutting edge’ of educating young teachers.”
The U.S. Department of Education passed new accountability standards in 2016. The criteria now include evaluating teachers according to a rubric, which will consist of student test scores and hold both the teacher and the teacher preparation program accountable for classroom achievement.