Teacher preparedness key focus in TN
For those students and adults interested in pursuing a teaching career, figuring out the best option to further their education and classroom preparation can be a daunting task.
Teachers help form the foundation of our economy and entire society, shaping the next generation of innovators, artists, healthcare providers, scientists, engineers and industry leaders.
Their essential role makes the job of “teaching the teachers” one of the most critical vehicles for helping all students succeed and in reaching our state’s educational goals.
In Tennessee, there are over 40 educator preparation programs, EPP, for prospective teachers and 20 programs to prepare school leaders - the greatest number of any surrounding state.
Tennessee also offers the greatest variety of options and access to prospective students, with programs offered in traditional public and private colleges and universities along with alternative certification programs.
In 2019, Tennessee approved Rutherford County Schools as the first local school district EPP, a now growing trend enabling districts to train their own educators in order to meet critical teacher shortages.
Preparing Tennessee’s teachers
To provide transparent, public information on teacher candidate preparedness and ensure the highest quality preparation for prospective teachers, state law requires that an annual Educator Preparation Report Card is produced and presented by the State Board of Education.
The Report Card includes data on recent educator licensure candidates, the rates at which they passed required licensure exams, their employment and retention status in Tennessee public schools, and their impact in the classroom, along with other scored and unscored metrics, including survey responses from teacher candidates on their level of satisfaction with their preparation program.
As a student turned classroom teacher turned school leader, I love helping students discover their pasan sions, navigate choices for postsecondary, and career preparation.
For those students and adults interested in pursuing a teaching career, figuring out the best option to further their education and classroom preparation can be a daunting task.
Tennessee’s EPP Report Card is one of the best tools for these potential educators to get accurate, timely information to help make these decisions.
Prospective educators can set up filters to find programs matching their criteria. For example, candidates can identify providers that offer the specific endorsement area they are interested in pursuing. They can also compare several providers side-by-side to determine which one best meets their needs.
As many states across the country face teacher shortages, tools like the Educator Preparation Report Card can provide the data and program information prospective teachers need to select an EPP and make it easier for our state to recruit and retain new teachers.
Becoming an educator is a calling, and the same can be said for those who work to prepare our next generation of educators. Educator preparation programs are the incubator for Tennessee’s future.
From my own experience as a graduate of the EPP at Vanderbilt University, I know first hand the impact that Tennessee EPPS have on teachers and students in the classroom.
I would not be who I am today without those people who invested in me and the experiences facilitated for me as an aspiring educator.
We hope you will check out Tennessee’s Report Card, which has become essential resource for prospective teachers and is helping prepare Tennessee students for a lifetime of success.
Nate Morrow is the Tennessee State Board of Education member for the Seventh Congressional District, and the head of school at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville.
The Tennessee State Board of Education is a ten-member, governor-appointed and legislatively confirmed board charged under the law with rulemaking and policymaking for K-12 education. Through a close partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Board maintains oversight in K-12 implementation and academic standards.