Marquette Leads National Online Teacher Training Partnership Program will help curb the national teacher shortage Released: March 18, 2005 Marquette University's School of Education, a leader in online education and distance learning programs, has created a first of its kind partnership with Loyola University Chicago and St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia to help them develop an online accelerated teacher certification program for adults who already have a bachelor's degree and now want to become teachers.  The program incorporates coursework and student teaching, culminating in teacher certification, and with an additional five courses, a master's degree. The initiative is designed to attract new teachers to the field by making the education and certification process more accessible for working adults.  This effort is part of an ongoing focus on stemming the teacher shortage that is plaguing school districts, particularly in urban areas, across the country. "The bottom line is that we have to get more highly trained teachers into the classroom.  Here at Marquette we've made real progress in providing quality online programs to the students who want them.  Loyola University Chicago and St. Joseph's University share our commitment to outstanding teacher education, and we are proud to partner with them in this effort to curb the teacher shortage that is stifling urban school districts across the nation,” says Dr. Heidi Schweizer, associate professor in the School of Education and director of the Center for Electronic Learning at Marquette.  “This online degree program will be a model for others as many states and universities develop new ways to meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law for a quality teacher in every classroom.” Kate Geenen, a student in the program, is one example of the many professionals who are leaving their current careers for one in education due to the structure of this online program.   Geenen was working for the Milwaukee Brewers in its Minor League Department when she decided to make a career change in order to have more time with her young family.  “As a working parent with two small children, the online format made graduate school a more accessible option for me,” she says.  “While I take the classes on my own computer, I still benefit from the experience of my professors and fellow classmates.  I'm getting the knowledge and teaching strategies I will be able to use effectively in the classroom.” NCLB law requires new approach to teacher certification The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law, passed in 2002, has forced states and universities to develop ways to meet new requirements to hire more qualified teachers and show academic improvement each year. Marquette's Center for Electronic Learning and School of Education were the first in Wisconsin to launch an online master's degree program in instructional leadership six years ago.  Last year, it received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to address the critical teacher shortage for new and qualified K-12 teachers, particularly in math and science.  According to the Urban Teacher Collaborative supported by the Carnegie Corporation and the Ford Foundation, urban school districts have been hit hardest by this teacher shortage; 98 percent of urban school systems have an immediate need for science teachers. Marquette University has already responded to t he enormous demand for new teachers by extending teacher certification and post-baccalaureate degree programs to a larger audience, launching its online teaching certification program in the summer of 2004.  Dr. Schweizer says that the desire among professionals to change careers and teach is increasing as well, and with it comes the demand for more flexible degree and certification options. The three universities hope that by focusing on the design, development and delivery of educationally sound online courses, they will be able to provide the critical link between school districts that desperately need new teachers and the professionals who want to join them. All three universities are located in urban centers, ideally positioned to train professionals to be new teachers in high-shortage areas.  The program will also place a strong emphasis on recruiting teachers of color.  The goal of the program is to recruit 35 teachers from each of the universities with a minimum of 20 teachers of color. Marquette builds on public and private support Federal funds account for 51 percent of the total cost of the project.  The U.S. Department of Education's grant is for $428,150 over a three-year period. In 1999, the AT&T Foundation began funding this initiative, and over the following four years, gave $350,000 to Marquette to support the staffing and development of online courses by the Center for Electronic Learning.  This grant enabled the Center for Electronic Learning to successfully complete the development of many of the online courses that make up this program. This effort was further enhanced with additional funding provided by the SBC Foundation. SBC donated $100,000 to underwrite much of the technical equipment. The combination of public and private support has resulted in this innovative new approach designed to stem the critical teacher shortage, provide professionals with a new rewarding career opportunity, and ensure higher education options continue to keep pace with today's technological advances and the lifestyle demands of working students. For more information on the online teacher training program at Marquette, please contact Anne Broeker in the Office of Public Affairs at 414.288.6712. Office of Public Affairs Contacts Christopher Stolarski Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-1988 Send e-mail