ASU changing how it educates future teachers

A recent story in Phoenix Business Journal focused on the entrepreneurial approach taken by ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College in preparing its future teachers.

The article points out that the Teachers College is "implementing different business models to help Arizona schools achieve better performance outcomes."

The college's innovative iTeachAZ program is a cutting-edge initiative that is attracting national attention for its year-long student teaching experience – doubling the time most future teachers spend in the classroom. The college scaled up the program 500 percent – increasing both its number of student teachers and number of school district partners – over a period of 10 months beginning in October 2010.

In the article, Mari Koerner, dean of the college, points out that the added experience means students taking their first classroom job perform like they are second-year teachers.

Janet Tobias, principal of Kyrene de la Paloma, an iTeachAZ partner school, agreed that the preparedness of iTeachAZ students has made them attractive hiring prospects.

ASU student Ray Urquieta also explained the benefits of his year-long iTeachAZ residency, adding: "This is how it should be done." 

Editor's Note: The entire article can be accessed via the link below on page 9.