The Teacher Academy
at Santa Rosa Junior College
What is it?
The Teacher Academy at Santa Rosa Junior College is a teacher preparation program with the goal of recruiting diverse students into the field of teaching and expanding the number of successful transfers of students to teaching and credential programs at the upper division level.
Why is this needed?
Over the next decade, California will face a severe teaching shortage. By the year 2005, the California public school population will be 6.4 million a 20% increase. It is estimated that California will need about 300,000 new teachers in the next decade to meet this demand. The California State University systems are being encouraged to deliver 260,000 new teachers by 2005. Statistics reveal that the majority of public school teachers begin their education at a community college; thus recruitment and training must begin at the community college level.
What will the Teacher Academy provide to students?
Recruitment and outreach. The Teacher Academy will recruit diverse students to consider the field of teaching, both in the local high schools and at the community college.
Counseling and assistance. The Teacher Academy will provide coordinated services for students, including orientation, counseling, and financial aid packages with scholarship, grant, and loan information.
Coordinated General Education Pattern. Students will be advised about the most appropriate general education courses related to their teaching goals and to their transfer plans.
Lower division Education courses. Students will be able to take lower division courses specifically for teachers, including Teaching in a Changing World (Education 250), offered in cooperation with Sonoma State University. SRJC will develop some lower division courses, such as Grammar for Teachers, Art for Teachers, Music for Teachers, and Physical Education for Teachers.
Internships. Students will receive college credit for internships in local public schools, elementary, junior high, and high school in order to observe and assist in real classrooms.
"Seamless" transfer. Articulation agreements will allow students to transfer seamlessly into upper division programs at nearby universities, including possibly Sonoma State, Dominican, Humboldt State, San Francisco State, and Sacramento State Universities. Some of these schools offer "blended" or fast-track credential programs.
Learning Community. Students will be able to participate in an interdisciplinary learning community preparing them for the realities of teaching in a multicultural society.
Fast Track. The Teacher Academy will help students to "fast track" into teaching careers, completing their education and teacher preparation in four years (rather than five years).
How will the Teacher Academy benefit public school districts?
Recruitment and "pipeline." The Teacher Academy will recruit diverse students both at the high school and college level into the field of teaching.
Local talent. The Teacher Academy will develop teaching candidates from Sonoma County who will do internships and develop connections with local schools. These candidates are likely to apply for teaching positions in Sonoma County.
Diversity. The Teacher Academy will recruit diverse students (in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability status) so that the pool of candidates for teaching jobs resembles the emerging demographics of California and Sonoma County.
Trained help in the classroom. Teaching interns will be helpful to teachers in classrooms and will have taken an introductory class in education and be trained on how to observe and assist in a classroom. (Note: Teaching interns will not perform any duties that would impinge upon negotiated contracts.)
When will this program be available for students?
Santa Rosa Junior College is currently in the planning stages for the program. We hope to secure a grant from the Community College Chancellors Office, State of California for the Academic Year 2002-2003. If the grant is secured, all aspects of the program should be available beginning Fall, 2003. In the meantime, limited aspects of the program (such as orientation, counseling, and some articulation agreements) are already available.