Teacher Shortage
MTEC helps meet the demand for new teachers. The shortage of highly qualified teachers, especially in urban school districts, is becoming a national crisis. Half of all current teachers will need to be replaced by 2010. In many states, including Wisconsin, the majority (70%) of students graduated and certified as teachers by colleges and universities do not take jobs as teachers. Fewer than 15% of traditionally prepared teachers choose to teach in urban districts. In Wisconsin, the number declines to 10%. Even when new graduates take teaching jobs in urban districts, 50% of those hired each year leave within five years. Urban school districts have higher teacher attrition rates than suburban or rural districts.
MTEC fills a valuable need for MPS. MTEC fills the urban teacher void by recruiting and preparing teachers specifically for urban schools. As of September 2006 there were over 700 MTEC graduates and current resident teachers in 150 Milwaukee Public Schools. Each day they teach over 17,000 children. The retention rate (those who continue to teach in MPS) over the last five years is greater than 85%.
Service to the Community
Through our partnership with AmeriCorps 938 MTEC/AmeriCorps members, along with their 23,000 students, have logged over 1.8 million hours of service to our community over the past four years. (through May 2007)
Lifelong Learning for Educators
Like other professionals teachers need to hone their skills to stay up to date with current research, pedagogy and technique. MTEC provides a range of workshops from basic lesson planning and classroom management to the implementation of Six Traits writing. Since it's inception PLS has provided professional development to over 500 teachers in more than 30 different Milwaukee schools.
The MTEC Master's Degree in Urban Education is focused on student learning and improving teacher effectiveness. Through partnerships with Marian College and Mount Mary College, MTEC has enrolled more than 100 students in the Master's program. As of May 2007 39 have earned Master's Degrees. The coursework is geared to working teachers who complete many of their courses through action research projects completed in their own classrooms.
Teachers licensed after August 2004 must meet Wisconsin standards for re-certification based upon the requirements established under PI34. MTEC is one of a few Wisconsin organizations to prepare and support teachers who must meet the PI34 requirements for licensure. Since August 2006 MTEC has prepared more than 40 newly licensed teachers to develop goals, create a Professional Development Plan, build a Professional Development Team and establish a PI34 support network.
MTEC has satisfied customers
Principals who have MTEC teachers on their staffs have been surveyed annually since 2001. During the past five years, 97% stated that they would recommend MTEC to others.
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