A new ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ initiative is aimed at addressing the critical shortage of educators in special education and elementary classrooms.
The initiative, called Teacher Education Pathways, recently received $97,000 from the Kansas Board of Regents.
The grant funding will allow the College of Applied Studiesβ Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP), elementary education and early childhood programs the ability to get Teacher Education Pathways off the ground.
The new program β which will start in fall 2023 β will provide smoother pathways for students pursuing Kansas licensure in elementary education and early childhood. ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ will collaborate closely with Butler Community College and ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech to establish a new scholarship and pathway for undergraduates seeking initial teacher licensure.
A key highlight of the program is the introduction of scholarships designed to support high school students, Butler and ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech students, as well as incoming ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ transfer students interested in a teaching career.
The initial scholarship will be aimed at Kansas high school students to cover the cost of the introduction to education course at Butler or ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech.
The second line of scholarships will be awarded to ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ transfer students from Butler or ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech, who can apply for the $1,000 Shocker Teacher Scholarship specifically for students in the TAP, elementary education or early childhood programs at Wichita State.
CAS Assistant Professor Dr. Julie Thiele, who is leading this initiative for ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ, says Wichita State is poised to make an even more significant impact on teacher education by creating these new opportunities for aspiring educators.
βWe are thrilled to receive this grant to collaborate with Butler CC and ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech to strengthen the pathways from student to teacher and address the critical vacancies in special education and elementary classrooms,β she says. βOur aim is to provide a quality education for all students."
Casey McGraw, lead education instructor at Butler Community College, says sheβs excited for this new program and its benefits.
βWe are ecstatic to start this partnership with ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ that gives future educators the opportunity to get a jump start on their careers in this most crucial field,β she said. βTogether, we will provide quality learning experiences to help build tomorrowβs teachers.β
Dr. Jennifer Seymour, vice president of General Education and Applied Technologies at ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech, says the partnership will greatly benefit students by providing foundational knowledge that will prepares them to transfer to ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ and complete their education.
βThe funds from the grant will help offset some of the out-of-pocket expenses for students, making it easier for them to persist to graduation,β she says.
About ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ
ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling almost 22,000 students between its main campus and ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the ΎΕΙ«ΜΓ main campus, is one of the nationβs largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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