Associated Colleges of Illinois: Mentor Online

I’ve located a wonderful website that lists a consortium of schools that offer online alternative certitication programs. Designed for individuals who want to “bring their life to the classroom,” based on the ongoing teacher shortage, these are bachelor and master degree programs that are typically able to be completed in one or two and years, coupled with “hands on” teaching experience. View the school offerings below:

http://www.online-education.net/teacher-certification-online.html

Deadline:  June 15, 2008

The National Association for Alternative Certification (NAAC) will award up to three scholarships to outstanding alternative certification interns, to recognize their important work and encourage their participation in the NAAC Annual Conference.  Each scholarship recipient will receive $1,000, plus a complimentary registration to the 2009 NAAC conference, up to $500 to offset travel expenses for the conference, and a complimentary one-year membership in NAAC. See link below for further details and application.

http://www.alt-teachercert.org/Scholarship_Guidelines_for_2009.doc

See what the experts of alternative certification topics are saying in this bi-yearly publication. Additional archived issuses are also available at http://www.alt-teachercert.org/journal.htm.

Click Spring 2008 online journal below:

http://www.alt-teachercert.org/JNAAC_Spring_2008.pdf

The keynote speaker for this year’s National Association for Alternative Certification Conference 2008 (NAAC) Conference is Mr. Harry Wong, author of the best seller “The First Days of School,” a MUST READ for all new teachers by the way! This conference is open to educators, district administrators, legislators, and policymakers. The conference is being held in Atlanta, GA April 3-5th. This year’s theme is Alternate Route Educators: A New Day for School Staffing.

For more details and for registration info., click on the link below:

http://www.alt-teachercert.org/NAAC_2008_Conference_Brochure.pdf

I found a plethora of topics on www.districtadministration.com that included a few discussions about alternate routes for administrators, but many other topics were featured: from education policy blogs to salary studies,  it kept me interested. Please review.

Normally we think more often about alternative certification routes for teachers, not “alternate routes to administration.” I was able to locate this link and I am looking for more quality information on this topic, so check back later in the week as I discover more info.
 

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0532.htm

This is a very detailed historical view on how far we’ve come with the concept of alternative certification. I was surprised to learn that currently 1 in 5 teachers are now certified through alt cert programs. Produced by the Thomas B. Fordman Institute and the National Council on Teacher Quality, this is a well written piece chronicling the program’s inception, intermixes of the various teaching certification programs and their connections, and ultimately where we seem to be headed with the concept of certified alternative teacher preparation. Please share your thoughts on this article. Enjoy!

 http://www.nctq.org/p/publications/docs/Alternative_Certification_Isnt_Alternative.pdf

1944

Frederick Douglass Patterson establishes the United Negro College Fund to help support black colleges and black students.

1954

In the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans., the Supreme Court rules unanimously that segregation in public schools in unconstitutional.

1957

President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends federal troops to ensure integration of the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. The Little Rock Nine were the first black students to attend the school.

1960

Black and white students form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), dedicated to working against segregation and discrimination.

1962

James Meredith is the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi; on the day he enters the university, he is escorted by U.S. marshals.

1963

Despite Governor George Wallace physically blocking their way, Vivian Malone and James Hood register for classes at the University of Alabama.

1968

San Francisco State University becomes the first four-year college to establish a black studies department.

1969

The Ford Foundation gives $1 million to Morgan State University, Howard University, and Yale University to help prepare faculty members to teach courses in African American studies.

2003

In Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court (5-4) upholds the University of Michigan Law School’s affirmative action policy, ruling that race can be one of many factors considered by colleges when selecting their students because it furthers “a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body.”

1854

Ashmun Institute, the first school of higher learning for young black men, founded by John Miller Dickey and his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson; later (1866) renamed Lincoln University (Pa.) after President Abraham Lincoln.

As we continue on in this month’s celebration of Black History Month, I’m thinking this week more about the plight of the African American male in education after attending this week’s NCLB Conference in Chicago.   I was able to witness standing room crowds for the sessions about educating the African American male. I want to share the story of Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, a successful Chicagoan, who as a youth “never missed a day” of school, was an honor roll student, and was even promoted from 6th to 8th grade within the public school system based on his academic abilities. Two of his educational but semi-controversial resources have titles alone that make you want to read them! This week’s featured books authored by Dr. Kunjufu are:
 

                                           “Black Students, Middle Class Teachers”
This compelling look at the relationship between the majority of African American students and their teachers provides answers and solutions to the hard-hitting questions facing education in today’s black and mixed-race communities. Are teachers prepared by their college education departments to teach African American children?                                           
                                                      
                                       “Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education”
This critical analysis looks at the disproportionate number of African American males in special education. Arguing that the problem is race and gender driven, questions covered include Why does Europe send more females to special education? Why does America lead the world in giving children Ritalin?

This entrepreneur, author, lecturer, husband, father, grandfather and friend has great insight, enjoy your read!