By Jamie L. Freedman
GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development underscored its commitment to increasing the nation’s pool of qualified teachers at an event at Washington’s School Without Walls earlier this month. The University’s nationally recognized teacher preparation graduate programs and tuition support initiatives were spotlighted at the event, which targeted GW undergraduates.
“Teaching is an essential profession, one that makes all other professions possible,” Karen Kortecamp, associate professor of secondary education, told the crowd of students and educators. “Our children deserve the opportunity to learn from highly qualified teachers who understand the complexities of learning and can match their instructional methods to the diverse needs of the kids they teach.”
Addressing the rising number of alternative teacher certification programs that have emerged in recent years, Dr. Kortecamp said, “Teaching is a complex art that takes years to master. People who enter the classroom armed with content knowledge but little to no teacher preparation are forced to rely on experimentation and trial and error. Our mission is to prepare teachers who are knowledgeable in the research and scholarship of curriculum and methods of instruction; who are reflective practitioners in the integration of theory and practice; and who, as leaders, are eager to contribute to the national conversation on the reform of America’s schools.”
The event showcased a number of new tuition support opportunities for GSEHD students, such as the federally funded Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program, which provides grants of up to $8,000 to students planning to teach high-need subject areas in schools serving low-income families. GSEHD students also benefit from partnerships with several local school systems, including D.C. Public Schools, which provide tuition support to graduate education students working in their classrooms.
A highlight of the evening was a panel discussion featuring GSEHD alumni teaching in local schools. Participants included Kelly Riling, M.Ed. ’09; a fourth grade teacher in the D.C. Public School System; Samantha Spinney, M.Ed. ’08, an English literature teacher at Annandale High School; Sasha Zeedyk, M.Ed. ’09, a fourth-grade teacher in the D.C. public school system; and Adam Sommer, M.Ed. ’04, a former high school English literature teacher now pursuing an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction. The panelists shared personal stories and praised GSEHD for preparing them to tackle the many challenges of the classroom.
According to Dr. Kortecamp, GSEHD’s Department of Teacher Preparation enrolls some 450 graduate students annually in its master’s degree programs focusing on elementary education, secondary education and special education. “Our graduates go on to become leaders in the classroom, in the school systems, and in the communities where they teach,” she says. “Teachers are a vital part of American society and we are proud to play a role.