MTEC was founded in 1996 through a collaboration among Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association (MTEA), higher education and the business community. The mission of MTEC was deceptively simple — Provide excellent teachers for Milwaukee's children.

The vision, commitment, and courage of the founders was clearly focused on MTEC providing our city's children with highly qualified, ethnically diverse, committed teachers who connect with children, who stay with them and who ensure that they learn at high levels. The founders understood the value for Milwaukee of providing students with a strong educational foundation and the need for talented professionals to teach them. It is teachers who are charged with developing the talented workforce for which Milwaukee was famous.

MTEC Teacher Certification Model

The Certification Program, MTEC's flagship, focused upon locating and training degreed professionals who had the passion and commitment to teach in Milwaukee Public Schools. Through an intensive preparation and internship the teacher candidates developed the skills essential for successful teaching. MTEC became and remains a valuable recruiter for Milwaukee Public Schools in areas of teacher shortage — math, science, bilingual education and special education.

The MTEC alternative licensing program is based upon the apprenticeship model where candidates complete a six week preparation to learn the fundamental principles and pedagogy of teaching. Upon completion the candidates, known as resident teachers (RT), are assigned as the full time teacher (intern) in a Milwaukee Public School classroom. Each resident teacher has the support of a mentor, coach, assessor and often school-based staff who are responsible for coaching into practice those skills needed to be an effective teacher. The RT earns the salary of a beginning teacher and the fringe benefits associated with a full time employee of Milwaukee Public Schools.

MTEC Today

In 2000, MTEC added Community Service, a form of Service Learning, as an option for Resident Teachers who wanted to integrate service learning projects into their classroom lessons. Participation is voluntary and overwhelmingly adopted by Resident Teachers. The service learning partnership with AmeriCorps has the added benefit of providing each RT with an education award that can be applied toward tuition costs.

In 2005 MTEC expanded it's commitment to developing excellent teachers with the addition of Professional Learning Services (PLS) and a Master's Degree in Education program. PLS provided a low cost option for schools interested in high quality and custom designed professional development to staff. The Master's in Education program provides opportunities for certified teachers to extend their knowledge of teaching through a fully accredited graduate program.

…and beyond

It is incumbent upon all leaders to implement practices that sustain the continued improvement of our schools. We ask national, state and local leaders to join MTEC in establishing a priority to locate, prepare and develop teachers who are committed to preparing students for a future we will never see.