GCU TODAY • 9
GCU’s innovative contributions to
Arizona K-12 education include:
PROBLEM-
SOLVING
K-12
interviewing and sometimes supervising the Promising Student
Teachers, a program that prepares GCU students to be placed in Arizona
classrooms.
“This is their responsibility, their job … and they’re representing
GCU,” she said. “They learn what a professional teacher looks like
— how they’re in their classrooms before the students arrive, how
they’re prepared, how they’re good colleagues and how they interact
with parents.”
The student teacher is exposed to a high-needs environment by
working closely with a mentor who has been recognized for success in
that classroom. This semester, the College of Education placed three
Promising Student Teachers through the Rodel program.
Dr. Kimberly LaPrade, dean of the College of Education, said the
University places more than 100 ground campus students into student
teaching assignments each year. Additional students are placed each
semester into local schools to meet their field
experience assignments, such as shadowing and
interviewing of teachers.
“This (fall) semester, any student who wanted
a job had a job,” LaPrade said. “There’s such a
shortage in Arizona, there are more than 700
classrooms that do not have highly effective,
certified teachers.”
Last year, the Arizona Department of Education
reported the state had about 95,000 certified
teachers, though only about 52,000 were teaching.
Experts cited factors such as low entry-level salaries
and lack of professional development opportunities.
“You have to love kids, love what you do and want to make a difference
in the lives of kids,” said GCU alumnus Dr. Randy Watkins, a former
Rodel Exemplary Principal who is assistant superintendent in the Buckeye
Elementary School District. “(GCU) instilled that in me. I remember by
Year Two I couldn’t wait for my student teaching experience.”
Education reform has come in a variety of measures. While the state
has its mandates and successes, private organizations such as Rodel have
helped plug some of the gaps with resources for seasoned educators,
classroom math training programs and the frequent placement of
student teachers.
Rodel’s charitable foundation was established more than 15 years
ago with the goal of developing more Arizona educational leaders to
strengthen public schools and improve student outcomes amid budget
cuts. Schools qualify to receive teachers and other resources from Rodel
if 70 percent or more of their students are part of free or reduced-cost
lunch programs.
“GCU students could easily go to any school, Christian schools or
wealthier areas to serve their communities as teachers,” said Howard
Paley, the Rodel Foundation’s chief operating officer, who also serves on
GCU’s Education Advisory Board. “But what I’ve learned is that Grand
Canyon reaches out to all students, including high-needs students. The
University wants to support them all.”
Rodel is just one example of how students shape their professionalism
and passion for teaching children. While there’s a lot more handholding
at the start of a semester, LaPrade said, the mentor teacher eventually
loosens control and allows the student to lead.
“So the goal for the second half of the semester,” she said, “is to let
Dr. Kimberly
LaPrade
Learning Lounge
What began as a way for GCU students to tutor
underprivileged or struggling students fromneighboring
Alhambra High School has expanded to reach others. Of the
92 Alhambra students who passed Arizona’s Instrument
toMeasure Standards (AIMS test) this fall, about 40 had
studied with GCU tutors at the Learning Lounge. The
sessions increased their confidence and focus going into
the test, said Principal Claudio Coria.
STEMScholars
As part of aWhite House national education summit in
December, the University announced it has partnered with
the Peoria Unified School District on a tuition-free program
for high school students to earn college STEM credits. The
goal is to extend the benefits to 650 students across 10
Valley school districts.
Lopes Leap to Teach
The College of Education initiative unveiled in October
aims to link school districts with open positions to qualified
student teachers and alumni. The University plans to
continue hosting campus education job expos.
Policy paper
GCU visiting professor Dr. Gerald Tirozzi, a former
assistant secretary of elementary and secondary
education at the U.S. Department of Education, published
“Addressing a Shortage of High Quality Teachers: An
Escalating Dilemma for Arizona Schools” in April 2014
through the College of Doctoral Studies. Tirozzi has
provided a variety of commentary on the issue.
