|
|
 |
UTEP’s Teachers for a New Era (TNE) is one of 11 institutions that have
accepted the challenge to better prepare our nation’s educators to
teach in the 21st century. In the El Paso region, more than 90% of
newly certified teachers are UTEP graduates, thus giving the University
a special stake in teacher preparation. Three design principles guide
UTEP’s TNE efforts towards renewing teacher preparation.
- Decisions
driven by evidence. These include the development of a model to assess
student achievement in relation to characteristics of high quality
teaching, the expansion of opportunities for research focused on
informing strategies initiated through TNE, and the development and
enhancement of data systems designed to inform the efforts of UTEP and
school district faculty and staff regarding institutional progress made
toward the renewal of teacher preparation.
- Expanded engagement
of arts and science faculty in teacher preparation. Through TNE, UTEP
is building on the knowledge base of faculty in the arts and sciences
to revise content courses to better prepare all students, especially
preservice teachers, and partnering with faculty in education to link
content to pedagogy. A primary focus of this work is on improvement of
teacher preparation in core content areas (English/Language Arts, Fine
Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) which is guided by
faculty from across the UTEP Colleges of Education, Liberal Arts and
Science, and our colleagues at the El Paso Community College.
- The
further development of teaching as an academically taught clinical
profession . UTEP’s TNE works to uplift the clinical practice of
teaching through close cooperation between UTEP and area schools, the
hiring of master teachers as clinical faculty, and residencies for
beginning teachers during an induction period.
UTEP’s
TNE is guided by connections among academic coursework, clinical
practice, and support provided to preservice teachers through the
university. TNE recognizes the interrelated and important role that
each of these areas serves in preparing highly qualified teachers who
remain life long learners while educating students in the El Paso area
and elsewhere.
It is only through contributions of faculty and
staff from the University, EPCC, and area school district that TNE is
able to continue the work of renewing teacher preparation. We encourage
you to join us in these vital efforts. Please feel free to use the
feedback link if you are interested in participating and learning more.
|
|