Dana Thomas PhD Vice President for Academic Affairs University
of Alaska System
Slide 2
What Role does UA Play in K-12? UA educates teachers, school
counselors, and administrators and provides continuing education
programs accredited by CAEP Conduct research on critical education
issues in Alaska Alaska Teacher Placement Program Alaska Statewide
Mentoring Program Future Educators of Alaska Other partnerships
include: Dual credit enrollment Middle College Eagle River &
Effie Kokrine Early College in Fairbanks Alaska Learning Network
Major UA Theme = Productive Partnerships With Alaskas Schools
Slide 3
Issues Needing Our Attention Proposed new CAEP Standards for
admission and a growing shortage of teachers nation wide. 26% of
current UA undergraduate education majors will meet the proposed
new standard in 2016. Alaska has the second lowest college-going
rate in the nation (NCHEMS 2010 data = 46.4% compared to national
62.5%) Among Alaska high school graduates entering UA, 52% require
developmental education; the vast majority in math Too few students
complete UA certificates or associate degrees;
(certificate/associate 11.3% AK versus 20.8% national). UA is doing
fine in baccalaureate program completions (31.8% AK versus 31%
national for public, open admission institutions) Alaska hires
about 450 teachers from out of state annually and teacher turnover,
particularly in rural Alaska is expensive and negatively impacts
student learning outcomes
Slide 4
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Slide 5
UA Ideas About What Needs to Change what do you think? Define
postsecondary ready - ready to take and complete college level math
and English UA Schools of Education are collaborating to improve
teacher preparation and retention in rural Alaska Rural Alaska
Paraprofessional Program, ANSEP teacher program and the following
additional ideas: target professional development for rural
teachers, addressing teaching second language learners and Alaska
Native culture for their particular district Provide a central
resource of teaching materials, techniques, or complete lessons for
mathematics and the sciences. Every student in an Alaska
Performance Scholarship curriculum unless parent opts them out
Improve math outcomes Implement college ready assessment no later
than 11 th grade Facilitate K-12 & UA dual enrollment
Slide 6
Share best practices to improve student outcomes Annette
Island, Lake and Penn, Aleutians East, the Pribilofs, and SE Island
districts all have high proportions of economically disadvantaged
students and have had high teacher turnover as well. All are rural
or remote districts. Yet, their students SBA test performance is at
or near the state median. More information on these schools and
communities might show how to improve the success of other
schools.
Slide 7
Preparing New Teachers for Alaska UA Teacher Education
Consortium a group focused on continuous improvement of UA teacher
education programs Joint Committee of State Board of Education and
UA Board of Regents Deans of Education UAA Heather Ryan UAF Allan
Morotti UAS Deb Lo What is working well in UA teacher preparation
programs? What changes to UA teacher education programs would you
like to see? What professional development do your teachers need to
ensure student success?
