Phi Theta Kappa - Honor Society

Green River Community College, WA

Project TEACH, an exemplary multi-faceted model that offers future mathematics and science teachers a seamless pathway to a teaching career

Green River Community College houses Project TEACH (Teacher Education Alliance of Colleges and High Schools), a teacher preparation program that offers a seamless pathway to a teaching career. Project TEACH includes outreach to high school students, special opportunities for community college students interested in careers in education, and in-service training for teachers who have already entered the profession. Components of the program for community college students include intensive student advising, specialized curriculum and a pre-professional degree for future elementary teachers, an active Teachers of Tomorrow Club, a yearly professional conference for future teachers, and opportunities for tutoring and classroom experiences. Green River was honored by the National Science Foundation in 1997 for having one of 11 exemplary community college teacher preparation programs nationwide in mathematics. Since then, Project TEACH has expanded to include science courses for future elementary teachers. Very recently, we have expended into the humanities and social science areas where future teacher develop specific lessons designed to relate to the standards which Washington State K-12 teachers are required to address in all subject areas. Project TEACH has been committed to creating a clear role for community colleges in the preparation of future teachers and we are very interested in helping other community colleges establish their own programs. We now have extensive printed resources that we disseminate to other community colleges for use "as is" or to edit as needed. Below, is a brief summary of our program:

Curriculum

  • 2-year, Pre-Professional Degree in Elementary Education, articulates with universities
  • Year-long mathematics sequence for elementary teachers
  • Year-long integrated science sequence for elementary teachers & liberal arts majors
  • Specific courses for K12 teachers (Intro. to Education, Tutoring in Schools, Intro. Spec.Educ., etc.)
  • Teacher Portfolios - developed by students over two-year period with required capstone course
  • 3rd and 4th year university teacher preparation program taught on our community college campus
Early Experiences
  • Teachers of Tomorrow Club
  • Future Teachers Conference - organized and conducted by our future teachers
  • Extensive field placements in local schools, mentored by K12 teachers
  • Summer Teach tutoring program in mathematics for 4th graders, our students serve as tutors
Structure
  • Project TEACH Center - staffed by full-time director and secretary, serves students and faculty
  • Academic Dean assigned 1/3 time to project, strong administrative support throughout
  • Soon to be formed Teacher Education Advisory Committee, cross-campus representation
  • Strong connections between faculty advisors and campus admissions/advising
Dissemination Other
  • Contracted K12 inservice courses in science and mathematics
  • Scholarships for future teachers
  • Extensive program evaluation and student tracking components
  • Extensive recruitment and marketing components

Mentors

Steve Kinholt, Instructor of Mathematics, and Co-PI Project TEACH, and Bruce Palmquist , Chair, Dept. of Physics, Central Washington University; and Co-PI Project TEACH.

For more information, contact Wendy Taylor, 601.984.3545.

Information about Phi Theta Kappa's Preparing Tomorrow's Science and Mathematics Teachers at Community Colleges: Round II