| Southeastern NEWS Southeastern Louisiana University Public Information Office SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402 504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061 Date: February 16, 2001 Contact: Rene Abadie 25 SOUTHEASTERN RECEIVES $1.8 MILLION FEDERAL ALLOCATION TO FACILITATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION ANY TIME, ANY PLACE HAMMOND Seeking a way to alleviate an impending shortage of certified teachers in the nation's classrooms, U.S. Rep. David Vitter (R-La.) on Friday (Feb. 16) announced a $1.8 million federal allocation to Southeastern Louisiana University to help expand its Alternate Teacher Certification Program. The grant from the U.S. Department of Education is designed to broaden and expand the university's current offerings in its alternative post-baccalaureate degree programs into all certification areas. Southeastern has been providing professional secondary education course work through distance learning via the Internet through an initiative first funded by grants from the state Board of Regents and Entergy. The new federal support will allow the university to build on its existing efforts. "Today, more than 14 percent of Louisiana's teaching force has not completed teacher certification requirements and are teaching in fields for which they are not appropriately certified," said Martha Head, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development. "This shortage of certified teachers affects approximately 100,000 students in Louisiana public schools." The program will provide opportunities for individuals with non-education degrees to become certified teachers, explained Head. "In addition, the funding will allow us to develop flexible scheduling and individualized instruction to help these teachers complete course work requirements for certification any time and any place, because much of the course work can be taken on-line," she added. "Congressman Vitter's support of this new initiative helps meet the concerns of Louisiana and the nation about the emerging shortage of certified teachers," said Southeastern President Sally Clausen. "In any educational reform effort, the emphasis has to start with making sure that we have competent, certified, and caring teachers in every classroom. That should be the birthright of every child in America." She said Vitter has visited area schools, superintendents and Southeastern and recognized the problem of too few certified teachers in classrooms, a situation that will only worsen in the next decade as two-thirds of teachers will be eligible for retirement. About 15,000 teachers in Louisiana are currently eligible for retirement, and the number grows annually. Shortages are especially critical in the areas of math, science and special education. "Creative approaches like Southeastern's are essential to reversing the shortage of qualified, certified teachers," Vitter said. "And without a strong teaching profession, all other professions will be in jeopardy." "We need to focus our efforts on programs that help us recruit and retain new individuals to the profession," Clausen said. "Certainly certification is not the only way we evaluate the quality of our teaching workforce, but it is an important minimum standard that we should seek in every teacher." "This effort is consistent with overall initiatives of the state and the Louisiana Board of Regents and with Blue Ribbon Commission objectives to improve teacher quality," said E. Joseph Savoie, state commissioner of higher education. University of Louisiana System President Bobby Jindal expressed his appreciation for Vitter's leadership on the funding for Southeastern. "These monies will allow the university to address the critical state need of certifying more teachers while using the latest technologies to reach K-12 teachers wherever they are," Jindal said. "This is a good example of our System initiative to create a 'seamless education experience' between the K-12 system and higher education. It is a win-win for everyone." Donna Contois of St. Tammany Parish, a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said the allocation is an example of how partnerships between state and federal government can work to maximum benefit. "Education appears to be the number one issue from the top levels of government to our own backyard," she said. "It's encouraging to see this kind of cooperation and partnership that can only improve the quality of our educational system." Clausen praised Vitter's efforts in helping to obtain the federal funds for Southeastern, noting that the Congressman had been instrumental in gaining nearly $2 million for the university's wetlands research projects in the Manchac Swamp over the past two years. "He has certainly been a responsive Congressman, and our district and the state is very fortunate to have had him as our representative," she said. With more than 1,300 students in its College of Education and Human Development, Southeastern has the largest teacher preparation program in Louisiana, graduating more than 300 new teachers each year. The university was the first in the state to guarantee the quality of its education graduates, instituting a program last year with 10 area school districts. Under the teacher guarantee program, Southeastern promises that its graduates know their subject matter, can teach to diverse student populations, and will infuse technology throughout the curriculum. If any graduates fail to meet these criteria, the university will re-train them at its expense and provide mentoring services as needed. -SLU- Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm | |
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