[010] Weeklong MTSU Institute Helps Qualify Teachers For Pre-K Licensure

July 9, 2010
Editorial Content: CONTACT Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919

WEEKLONG MTSU INSTITUTE HELPS QUALIFY TEACHERS FOR PRE-K LICENSURE

MURFREESBORO—Approximately 35 K-8 teachers from across the state recently attended a weeklong intensive Pre-K Summer Institute at Middle Tennessee State University to obtain their endorsement to teach at the pre-K level.
MTSU was first approached by the Tennessee Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning to offer the pre-K endorsement. Coordinated through the College of Education and Behavioral Science, key sessions focused on child development, curriculum and instruction, diversity and exception needs, family relationships, and assessment.
““We consider it a privilege to offer training in early childhood education to a group of dedicated teachers,” said Dr. Lana Seivers, education dean. “The expertise and knowledge of the MTSU faculty further prepare these skilled professionals with developmentally appropriate curricula and information to use in their classrooms. Through endeavors such as the Pre-K Institute, Tennessee’s youngest learners will be given a foundation upon which to grow and develop.”
“This has been great, and in a one-week course we are getting all the information we need,” said Katie Dowis who teaches in Alcoa, Tenn. “This will help me get my endorsement to become a pre-K teacher next year.” Dowis will take the Praxis II Education of Young Children test in July, which all aspiring pre-K teachers must pass along with meeting other criteria before they earn licensure.
“I’ve always wanted my pre-K endorsement,” commented Ruby Hunt from Huntingdon, Tenn. “I’ve learned about the development of the child and the stages they go through—how their hearing progresses and their writing skills, what age they should be scribbling, what age they should be making shapes and designs and drawing pictures. This has been a very valuable experience.”
Candace Washington, from Memphis, has a pre-K class waiting for her this summer as soon as she is licensed to teach them.
“I come from middle school,” she said, “so I have problems getting children who are behind on their reading level. So I spend a lot of time with them. And I thought, well, if I’m doing this in middle school, I need to be in kindergarten where I can lay a foundation. If I can teach the 20 children I have in kindergarten to read, then I have a good running start in the other grades.” Washington wants to add her pre-K endorsement.
“Being a K-8 teacher, you only receive one special-education class through your entire undergraduate work,” noted Jessica Moore, elementary school teacher in Hamilton County. “So the special-education information is great for me. MTSU has shown a lot of hospitality to us and put forth a great effort to make us feel welcome here—and to prepare us for the Praxis Test,” she added.
Dr. Kathy Burriss, professor in the Department of Elementary and Special Education and one of the instructors for the institute, said teaching in an institute like this is the “greatest opportunity because these people want to be here. They want to know how to make things happen for children in the most appropriate way—and they are willing to meet state standards. They’re just very enthusiastic—you can see it!”
Debbie Simpson, director of the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance at MTSU, served as coordinator of the institute.
“I just believe that if something good is happening for teachers in the state of Tennessee, MTSU should be involved,” Simpson said. … “One participant said that we were the reason she would have a job this fall. The enthusiasm was contagious! They seemed to really form a bond over the 5-day intensive-training event.”

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.