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JCC receives $10,000 award for teacher education program

Jackson Community College's teacher education program has gained national recognition for excellence.  JCC is one of 10 community colleges across the country to receive a $10,000 award from the American Association of Community Colleges through the "Teaching By Choice Community College Teacher Preparation Program Recognition Award" program.

With support from the National Science Foundation, AACC, in partnership with the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs and the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, developed "Teaching By Choice: Addressing the National Teacher Shortage."  This is a two-part initiative focusing on the demand for K-12 teachers and community college faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).  JCC was recognized for STEM instruction. 

JCC's application highlighted its teacher education partnership with Spring Arbor University and the unique features of the program that allow teacher education students to be immersed in the program from the start as opposed to waiting until their junior year to be exposed to the education curriculum.  The College plans to use the recognition awards funds to expand and enhance its current program.

"In this time of educational cuts both statewide and nationally, and with continual test score problems in math and science in the K-12, along with 'new teacher' dropout rates of 50 percent by year five, supporting new teachers in math, science and technology is imperative," said Professor Mary Belknap, teacher education coordinator.  "I am honored that our teacher education program is selected as exemplary by AACC. Our plan to collaborate with the Jackson County Intermediate School District professionals and Spring Arbor University professionals to support new teachers in math, science and technology in Jackson County will help retain new teachers and support our state in offering the best of education for our youth."

Spring Arbor University has an office on JCC's campus, and SAU's Associate Professor of Education, Miriam Sailers, keeps regular office hours to meet with potential transfer students. This JCC-SAU partnership, which began in 2000, has yielded numerous positive results, including the School Community Connection (field service volunteer fair) in collaboration with the Jackson Non-Profit Support Center; Michigan's largest Future Teachers Conference co-sponsored by Jackson County Intermediate School District; Issues and Trends in Education, a community event sharing yearlong accomplishments of all teacher education students; a shared list serve for student information, job postings, state and local professional development events and field service opportunities; and student organization events including Epsilon Chi, a formal future teacher student organization founded by JCC students at SAU, now open to all pre-service teacher education students.