Teacher Preparation Programs

This morning, instead of heading to Granite State College, GSC’s President paid a visit to a different kind of education institution:  Bow Elementary School!

Dr. Todd Leach, along with fellow college and university presidents across New Hampshire, joined young children in classrooms around the state for Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, a world-record-breaking campaign in which adults and children nationwide will read the same book on the same day to establish the largest group of people ever to collectively read the same story on a single date.

This year Jumpstart’s featured book is the New York Times bestselling children’s book, Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis.  

The purpose of this event is to shine a national spotlight on America's early education achievement gap and to highlight Jumpstart's programs as a way to address this crisis. It’s a goal that GSC certainly understands.

In our School of Education, the teacher preparation programs focus in on the critical shortage areas that exist in education, which includes our early childhood education major.

GSC is proud to support Jumpstart’s mission through Read for the Record and proud to contribute by empowering future educators in our undergraduate degree programs and post-baccalaureate programs for teacher education.

On a personal note...

As a Jumpstart alumni, I was excited to learn that the New Hampshire College and University Presidents were going to participate in 2012's Read for the Record and it was a pleasure to help coordinate on behalf of GSC! I did three terms of service while I was earning my bachelor's degree and even have some photos to prove it (note the "vintage" Jumpstart blue from 7 years ago!). 

-Jacqui Lantagne
Marketing Specialist, Granite State College
Jumpstart Corps Member and Team Leader, 2004-2007
 

Have you ever wondered if a college education was a good idea? Have you debated with yourself about going back to school, spending all that money to find out things you already know? Have friends told you there is no purpose in going to college?

Well, think for a minute about what you want to be doing 5, 10 even 20 years from now. Do you want to be doing the same thing you are doing now? Are you up to date with the latest technology for your field? Well a college education can help you to change careers or get up to date with the technological advances in your field. Recently I spoke to someone who started college right out of high school but then stopped. He works in the landscaping field. He wishes he knew something about running a business so he could work for himself. I suggested college courses and he said no way was he going to sit around in a classroom. Then I suggested on line courses. You can take them when your schedule allows it. You can take the courses you need for your career, or you can put together a program of classes for a particular degree. He is considering the idea and maybe you should too!

Did you know that Granite State College offers many different kinds of degree programs? They have on line and face to face  courses to meet your needs. Maybe you want Special Education Teacher certification after being a paraprofessional for many years.  Maybe you are thinking of an undergraduate psychology degree, or a health care management program. Consider the options and consider that things are changing so fast in our society, that without training, it will be hard for anyone to be prepared for a career, even 5 years from now. Don't be left behind. Think about your reason for a college education.

Well, I am on the road again, visiting more of New Hampshire's SAUs. I am meeting with Superintendents, Special Education Directors, HR specialists, Principals and anyone else who might be connected with the teachers (or future teachers) within the school districts. I think I am up to 28 SAU visits since September and the state has somewhere around 90...so I will be on the road often, since it is my goal to visit all of them!

Today's trip takes me to southern NH, to spread the word about Granite State College's Post Baccalureate Teacher Certification Programs and Advanced Endorsements for already certified teachers. Making sure that school administrators are familiar with Granite State College Teacher Preparation Programs  www.granite.edu/academics/teachers/educators.php 
helps teachers to continue learning and make a difference in their schools.

Travelling New Hampshire's highways and backroads in search of each district's schools provides for an interesting and fun day. I always loved fall and "back to school" time. The happy sounds of teachers' and children's voices in the schools and on the playgrounds reminds me of the excitement of learning, socializing and playing together. 

While this is my first year out of the classroom and not teaching, my visits to the different SAUs throughout the state are a lot of fun and very interesting. I especially enjoy talking with prospective teachers about the programs that Granite State College offers. The excitement of going back to college, taking adult online classes and becoming a teacher is contagious. It is a little bit like visiting those schools and playgrounds...it makes you feel so excited about learning and going back to school!

A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend from high school. A few days after that encounter, I ran into another friend from high school. It's always amazing how you feel when you run into old friends. There are some people you get very excited to see, and others you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach and in all honesty, you may try to dodge them from seeing you. For most people that I have met (post high school) it's a time in their life they want to forget. And seeing someone from your past can bring up some uneasy feelings that you thought you had buried. 

I am up this morning, sipping on coffee and thinking about the presentation I give this afternoon at the office. I have to show the collectors what my job is as a Credit Analyst and how I determine who and when to grant credit to for a car loan.

I never liked getting up in front of people, hated it. I was shy as a youngster and in my teenage years, I was pretty much a loner. Standing up in front of a lot of people was something I just dreaded. I had a teacher/professor who taught a class called Small Group Dynamics. She gave us assignments to give presentations every week, individually as well as a small group presentation. It was one of the adult accelerated degree program classes I had taken in TN and it was accelerated class. Giving a presentation every week was the pits. Preparing by making note cards, standing in front of the mirror the night before and thinking about it all through the day until the class came that night was so unbearable at times. But, I did it and so did everyone else who had the guts to stay in the class. That class went from a roll of 20 students down to 14 students in just one week. Only the strong survive, as I told my girlfriend Doris Card. We joked about that years later saying we got through the Class from H _ _ , we can do anything!!! Doris is no longer on this earth, but my fun and fond memories of our days in school will stay with me always.

So today I have another presentation to give. I am not dreading it anymore, in fact just the opposite, I looking forward to it, I love it.  I love getting up there explaining what I do to others, showing them a career path they may want to explore at some time in the future. College gave me that confidence to do so. Whether it be on-line classes from distance learning universities or from Granite State College, anyone can do it if they just stick to it. You too can be a survivor!!

actually lead.

It seems that the best leaders are often the ones who are thrown into leadership positions with little or no preparation for that particular situation.  The truth be told, the most effective leaders are the ones who embrace opportunties as opposed to those who try to control the situations.

Leadership is about collaboration and communication.  It is where we apply everything we ever learned (and learn about what we didn't) in our past - whether through education or experience, we all have an inventory of knowledge, skills, experiences, lessons learned, etc. that we can apply to just about any situation we may be facing.  The interesting thing about all of this is that good leaders know how to get people to collaborate and bring ALL of their tools and knowledge with them to create solutions.

Education, through whatever means you choose, online classes, adult education programs, weekend intensives, seminars, etc. provide opportunities for you to practice your leadership skills in the classroom with peers who can provide feedback, instructors and teachers who can provide coaching and present new perspectives.

People learn to lead from watching others, past managers and bosses, parents, coaches, teachers, etc.  However, they can only learn if given the opportunity to stretch their skills and competence.  They must have the chance to practice in a safe environment.  They must be a willing collaborator in their own development as a leader.

Now, this is not to say that everyone should be or even wants to be a leader.  Many people avoid the opportunity to lead for many reasons, some valid, some not.  It is always a personal decision for every individual AT THE TIME when the leadership opportunity occurs.  It is about being comfortable in one's own place and with one's peers or classmates.

I use group projects in every course I teach.  I watch people step up to lead the groups and create a plan to achieve a result.  I watch people gravitate toward individuals who they believe will take charge of the group and let everyone know what needs to be done.  I see groups that struggle because no one WANTS to take responsibility for the team performance.  Students approach me as the instructor to let me know there is no leader in their group and it is falling apart.  I challenge them to do what needs to be done.  It is their opportunity to try on the leadership role in a very safe environment.  Some say they don't want to risk their grade but if you are in a group without a leader for a course project is your grade not already at risk?

Leaders take advantage of opportunites to practice their skills.  Sometimes leaders learn by letting others take leadership roles and watch how others deal with situations. 

At some point everyone is a leader....maybe it is just in your pursuit of you education to better position yourself at work or for your future....you are taking a leadership role in your own education......take advantage or the collaboration opportunities in your classes and practice, practice, practice leadership every chance you get.......

You never know when the opportunity to lead will come up and change your life.......

Do you remember what it felt like when you were a child and made your parents proud?  I remember when I was in the first grade and won the spelling bee which meant I won a five foot tall stuffed Snoopy animal our teacher had brought in as motivation for all of us.  My classmate, the runner up, cried hysterically because she had dreamed of winning this prize.  I was so moved by her emotion that I gave her the stuffed Snoopy.  By the time I had arrived home on the school bus my teacher had phoned my parents and informed them of the events of the day.  That is the last time I remember my parents telling me how proud they were of me.  I felt great on that day, not because my hard work and studying had paid off but because my parents were truly proud of their daughter.

I became a single parent at the age of 25.  I raised and supported two beautiful daughters on my own.  I bought a home and gave of myself to community organizations for more than a dozen years.  It was not until I began my Adult Accelerated Degree Program at Granite State College that my parents again expressed pride in me.  Let me tell you, it feels even better at the age of 40 to make your parents proud than it did at the age of 7.

Do you know what is even more gratifying than hearing your aging parents tell you they are proud of you?  It is hearing your child tell you how proud they are of you.  I received a flower delivery at work; I had not received flowers since the birth of my children some 18 years ago.  I opened the card and read,” I am so proud of you, Love Brittany.”  I immediately called my daughter and asked what she was proud of.  I thought I may have won the lottery and did not realize it!  She simply stated that she was proud of me for pursuing my adult college degree, working fulltime and still supporting her, her sister, the family dog and our home.  This is the child that saw me as the Devil incarnate for some 5 + years!  How wonderful is that?

Last year I was inducted into the Honor Society.  My youngest daughter came to the ceremony out of obligation.  She made it clear that she was put out by the fact that she had to get up as early as 10:00am and wear her “Sunday Best.”  While at the event she sulked and complained that they did not serve any food that she liked.  Danielle was 18 years old and in her “dark” period.  She dyed her hair black wore black clothes and refused to smile or say anything positive during her day.  As each of the 30 of us adult college degree students being honored were called upon for pinning we were asked to say a few words.  I had prepared a brief 30 second speech so I was comfortable doing so.  As I walked back to my seat after speaking my daughter leaned in and said “you just owned this room!”  If you need a translation from the “dark side” my daughter had just told me that she was proud of me.  What an accomplishment that was.

I am middle aged and have the generation above me and below me both proud of me at the same time.  Is there a better place to be in life?