Finding Good Teachers California Style

Posted by LisaHill - 23/11/09 at 06:11 am

Subject Matter: Encorps Tackles Math & Science Teacher Recruitment in California
Grades: Middle to High School Teachers

Encorps Taps Math & Science Professional Resources
It’s troubling to hear the U.S. still trails behind other countries in math and science. California hasn’t fared any better. A 2007 study by the National Assessment of Education Progress reports California ranks 45th for 8th Grad Math and 42nd in 8th grade science. California school districts are no different than their national counterparts feeling the recession bite.  Many struggle to recruit experienced and talented math, or science teachers. Something radical had to be proposed to address this math and science disparity.

And one group has risen to this challenge. Encorps is a non-profit organization that recruits retired professionals in the math and science field to teach middle school and high school students. Kudos to these senior citizens who deserve their retirement, yet take on teaching and tutoring gangly middle schoolers, and moody high schoolers. These retirees were the recipients of good education, and they’re giving back to their local community over one hundredfold by inspiring and challenging younger minds.

A Future Vision
Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures, envisioned pooling from a readily available resource of experts to address the critical math and science teacher shortage in California schools. What was this already available resource?  None other than the retired community of engineers, scientists, computer programmers, financial consultants and other educated retirees.  With Jennifer Anastasoff, founding CEO, Encorps emerged in 2007 helping to broker the connection between this skilled work force to transition into becoming full, or part-time teachers.

EnCorps focuses on transitioning retired corporate professionals into new education careers to help ensure disadvantaged communities and underfunded schools receive excellent math and science teachers.  Students learn from former engineers, scientists and doctors how math and science concepts apply in today’s industry standards and workforce.  Partnered with California’s P-16 Council and the Governor’s Committee on Education Excellence, Encorps developed a pilot model to train former professionals into teachers.  Corporations, such as IBM, Hewlett Packard, Northrup Grumman, and Boeing are contracted to help identify interested employees, and financially sponsor their education.  Over 1100 applicants have applied, and to date, Encorps will have graduated 170  teachers.

How Encorps Works

Interested candidates apply to be either full time, part time or substitute teachers.

Encorp reviews each candidate’s application and review their qualifications

If accepted, requested to become an Encorps Pioneer.

For one year, Encorps Pioneers volunteer as guest teachers, or substitute teach to gain classroom experience.

While volunteering, Pioneers take accreditation courses and tests to become teachers, and provided online internship programs at various universities.

Encorps assists with study materials and groups.

Two professional development events offered each year providing workshops how to manage and support students (Classroom Boot Camp and Winter Institute).

Regular check-up and mentoring by Program Director.

Pioneers can choose three tracks to fulfill teaching career: be a full time teacher, career substitute, or volunteer tutor.

After one year teaching, Encorp reimburses partial, or full accreditaton expenses.

One Teacher’s Journey
You could say Alan Cleland truly enjoys mechanical engineering and math.   After graduating from Yale University in 1960 with a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, he served 4 years with the U.S. Navy Seabees. In 1966 at M.I.T.,  he received his S.M. in Mechanical Engineering.   In 1969, Alan obtained an M.B.A. in Finance from Harvard Business School.  Since then, Alan worked with different engineering companies before forming in 1984 his business strategy consulting firm. After working for several years as a financial consultant, he decided to tackle another challenging, and enriching career – becoming a teacher.

Now, Alan enjoys tutoring a wide spectrum of students at Citizen Schools in Redwood City, CA.  From students struggling with math to gifted students, Alan inspires them with different engineering projects.  “I tell my students they are apprentice engineers.  By tackling hands-on math and science projects, they are developing entry level skills required for every engineer.”

Students focused on one project learning to scale down a local park, drawing plans and learning about scaled proportions.  “Then we took a look at the Solar System, and my students tackled scaling proportions in space.”

With Encorp teachers, students have a chance to talk, and work with professionals who’ve been in a wide variety of working fields.  This one-on-one interaction inspires many students to challenge themselves, and stay in school.

Hey World! Are You Taking Notes?
If this program can be successful in California, it can be copied in other states, and different countries. Mimicry is the best flattery, so check into Encorps and ask questions. Money doesn’t solve all the world’s problems, people coming up with ingenious, yet simple creative ideas do. Time to roll up the sleeves, and rethink how to bring in all that wonderful talent, training and experience retired professionals can offer to young students.

Systems Requirements: A Can Do Attitude
Contact: www.encorpsteachers.org

This entry was posted on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 6:20 am and is filed under Free Programs, Homework Help, Math, Science, Special Education, Teacher Programs. The entry is tagged under Encorps, hire a teacher, hiring teachers, how to become a teacher, how to find good teachers, how to find math teachers, how to find science teachers, how to find teachers, how to recruit teachers, how to volunteer as a teacher, math teacher, science teacher. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.