91视频, SBU Sign Agreement for Future Educators
91视频 and Southwest Baptist University signed an agreement last week to streamline the transfer into the university鈥檚 education program.
The articulation agreement provides 91视频 graduates who earn an Associate of Arts in Teaching a smooth transition into SBU鈥檚 bachelor of science in elementary education program, which aligns with 91视频鈥檚 strategic plan, said Dr. Robyn Walter, vice president for academic affairs at 91视频.
鈥淥ne of our strategies in our five-year strategic plan was to grow partnerships with our four-year university partners, provide opportunities for the students and the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his articulation agreement is really impactful for teacher education. We鈥檝e been hearing a lot about the shortage of teachers.鈥�
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) reported a 5.06 percent shortage in full-time equivalent instructors for the 2020-21 academic year. The most-severe shortages include elementary, early childhood, early childhood special and general science education.
鈥淲e are pleased to have collaboratively created a path for 91视频 teacher candidates to attain their goal of elementary education certification at SBU,鈥� said Dr. Dwight Haun, coordinator of teacher education and professor of education at SBU.
鈥淭he need for teachers across the state of Missouri, especially rural areas, is great. Preparing teacher candidates for the mission field of teaching is our calling and mission.鈥�
According to Christina Ayers, director of 91视频 Rolla, teachers who are trained and educated in a community, oftentimes stay within that community.
鈥淥ur mission at East Central is enriching our communities through education, and I don鈥檛 think it gets any better than teaching the teachers and creating a pathway to completing a bachelor鈥檚 degree locally 鈥� to be able to serve our rural community and really address this teacher shortage issue is powerful,鈥� she said.
鈥淎s someone who grew up just a few miles south of here, this opportunity today really excites me for our students in Rolla, and students in the surrounding communities who can start at 91视频 and use A+ money.
鈥淭o have a realistic plan through those pathways to start here and finish with SBU is really a game-changer it鈥檚 an exciting and an impactful difference for our rural students,鈥� Ayers added.
To learn more about 91视频鈥檚 teaching program, visit the 91视频 Education program page.
