KSC Expands Its Educators Development Center
KEENE, N.H. 12/12/02 - The Keene State College Professional Educators Development Center has expanded its partnerships with regional school districts and higher education institutions to raise teaching standards and thereby improve education for all children in southwestern New Hampshire.
Keene State wants to be a strong player in raising the standards of teachers in our schools, explains David S. Hill, dean of the Professional and Graduate Studies Division at Keene State.
Hill points to several successful initiatives begun by the center during the past year that have improved professional development opportunities for area educators. Professional development is viewed as essential to strengthening teacher recruitment and retention under President George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind mandate, the short title for the 2001 Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
The Principal Residency Program places graduate students in the educational leadership program with local principals, who act as mentors to the students. Several students have graduated and accepted principal positions in local schools.
Keene State entered into a partnership with Monadnock Regional School District (SAU 38) and Antioch New England College to provide public school choice for area students. Keene State supported the federal grant for $13.7 million awarded to SAU 38 in October, which will cover operating expenses for the Monadnock Community Connection School, and establish other specialized schools in the district.
A Learning Network is being established so educators can share resources on available professional development programs. Keene State, founded as a teachers college in 1909, has long provided teacher-training programs at local schools and professional development courses on campus. The Learning Network will include a list of the expertise of KSC educators available for consulting on a free or paid basis.
KSC is working with New Hampshire Public Television and the University of New Hampshire to establish a statewide distance-learning network with linked classrooms on the Keene campus.
Deborah Black and Janaki Tschannerl, professors of education, are leading pilot inter-teaching centers at Great Brook School in Antrim and Emerson School in Fitzwilliam. KSC also has long-established student teacher programs at schools in Keene Regional School District SAU 29.
KSC is partnering with Claremont Community Technical College to offer an associates degree program to train classroom aides.
KSC is collaborating with Plymouth State College and the College for Lifelong Learning to develop regional centers for students with special needs who are transitioning to careers.
Plymouth State and KSC have partnered to offer graduate programs on the Keene State campus. For example, students in the Monadnock area can earn a masters of business administration from Plymouth State by taking classes on the KSC campus. Plans are being developed to offer Plymouths Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership program on the KSC campus.
Keene State and the Keene School District are exploring the development of a state-sponsored Professional Development Center. The center would provide activities for teachers, school staff, and school administrators in area school districts.
For further information about these programs, contact the KSC Professional Educators Development Center at 603-358-2220.
