FORT RILEY, Kan. - Fort Riley's Education Services and a consortium of colleges and universities associated with the post have teamed up to produce a new teacher education program. The program, which began in January, gives Soldiers, spouses and residents of the Central Flint Hills Region the opportunity to take courses in education on post and online.
Forming the consortium with Education Services are Barton County Community College, Central Michigan University, Central Texas College, Kansas State University, Southwestern College, University of Mary and Upper Iowa University.
"Participation in all aspects of post-secondary education is important to the seven post-secondary schools that operate on Fort Riley since they are here by invitation of the Army and their primary focus is in meeting the needs of the Fort Riley post population," said Larry Brockson, representing Central Michigan University at Fort Riley.
Southwestern College does the initial counseling of prospective students as well as all student advising," said Kirk Dimond, Southwestern College program representative. "Some of the licensure courses require clinical hours inside local schools and Southwestern College coordinates and supervises these experiences. Barton College and Central Texas College do offer select education courses on post, as well."
Fort Riley currently is the only Army post offering this type of program, which came as the result of a December 2006 needs assessment, showing a need for on-post licensure opportunities.
"What is neat is that even if you are not affiliated with the military in any way you can take on-site courses at the same discounted tuition rates that Soldiers and spouses receive," Dimond said.
The program's end result is to provide state-licensed teachers who followed one of three degree paths: early childhood, elementary or secondary education.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Students can transfer in or complete the required 33 hours of general education through the consortium's seven colleges. Early childhood education content courses are then completed either through Southwestern College and Central Texas College.
"Once a student has finished all general education requirements, all early childhood content requirements, and passed the PRAXIS I examination, he or she gains entry into the Professional Teacher Licensure program with Southwestern College," Dimond said.
The Praxis Series assessments provide educational tests and other services that Kansas and other states use as part of their teacher licensure and certification process. Praxis I tests measure basic academic skills, while the Praxis II tests measure general and subject-specific knowledge and teaching skills.
The professional courses consist of 22 hours, including a 12-hour student teaching experience. To graduate with a bachelor of arts in early childhood education, students must complete the required 124 hours and may need up to 22 hours of electives, depending on the amount of credits being transferred in. The culmination of the licensure program is the PRAXIS II and content examinations.
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
As with the early childhood education program, students can transfer in or complete the required 33 hours of general education through the consortium colleges. Elementary education content courses are then completed through Southwestern College and Barton College. Students who finish all general education requirements, all elementary content requirements and pass the PRAXIS I examination will gain entry into Southwestern College's Professional Teacher Licensure program. The professional courses consist of 22 hours, including a 12-hour student teaching experience.
"To graduate with a bachelor of arts in elementary education, students must complete the required 124 hours and may need up to 31 hours of electives, depending on the amount of credits being transferred in," Dimond said. "The culmination of the licensure program is the PRAXIS II and content examinations."
SECONDARY LICENSURE
While a bachelor of arts is earned through the early childhood and elementary programs, students only receive licensure, not the degree, through the secondary licensure programs, Dimond said. The two secondary content areas currently offered are business, and history and government.
"Students in this program may have already earned their undergraduate degree and if it is one of these two content areas, only the pre-professional (five hours), and the professional (25 hours) are needed," he said.
As with the other two programs, the Praxis II and content examination is required for secondary. A student without an undergraduate degree could earn a degree in business or history through the Fort Riley consortium and then complete the required licensure courses through Southwestern College.
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were four million preschool, elementary and secondary teachers in 2006. However, between 2006 and 2016, the number of teaching positions is expected to increase by 479,000, resulting in favorable job prospects.
Walter Bembry of Upper Iowa University said UIU is always looking for ways to better serve the military community.
"The university felt that by working with Southwestern to bring this possibility to the Soldiers and Family members here a Fort Riley, we would be at the forefront in providing a new and unique possibility to the military Family," Bembry said.
A unique aspect of the program is that it is open to anyone. Fourteen students are enrolled in the teacher education program. Of that, two are active duty, one is a retiree, 10 are military spouses and one is a civilian.
Amanda Marks is a military spouse working on her teacher licensure. She holds a bachelor's degree in social science from UIU. Marks is a paraprofessional, which is similar to a teacher's aide, and works with special needs children at a grade school on post.
"The classes are very small and the instructors see us as people," Marks said. "We're using the information they give to us and applying it in real-life situations instead of just on paper.
Marks said another benefit of this program is that it goes by quickly.
"We go six, eight or maybe 12 weeks, and then we change classes," she said. "We meet one night a week, so we can work full-time jobs."
Marks' long-range plans include pursuing a master's degree in special education.
"I'll probably do that through Southwestern, too, because if my husband gets transferred to another post, I can continue with the same group of teachers online. That just makes it easier for me."
Driving onto post from Junction City, Janis Tolly learned about the program from radio and newspaper ads.
"I'm currently working in the school district as a para," Tolly said. "Teaching is what I've always wanted to do, so I decided this was the best time for me to come back and it was convenient because it's at night."
Tolly holds a bachelor's degree from K-State in Family studies and human services.
"I can't give up my full-time job during the day to go back to school, so this really just fit my needs," she said.
Anyone interested in enrolling in the teacher education program should contact Dimond at kirk.dimond@sckans.edu or 785-784-9930.
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