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experience in Houston earlier in their majored with us in their teaching PRINCIPAL
careers to feel more prepared and area and gotten a minor in secondary
connected to the school district. education and had a richer experience SURVEYS TO
“Typically, when students have field than getting alternatively certified, but
experiences in a district, including they don’t see it that way. Secondary EVALUATE
student teaching, they tend to go and programs, although we’re recruiting EDUCATOR
work there,” she said. “Houston is for them, tend to have lower numbers.
very interested in getting more of our I think it’s just because of a false PREPARATION
student teachers and field experiences perception of how much preparation PROGRAMS
so students are excited about teaching in teaching they need.”
there. The number of SHSU African
“I think a lot of our students American certified teachers has Principals must respond
don’t know the amazing experiences increased by 86 percent in five years. to a survey to measure the
they can have in urban settings,” she “We believe that students need to performance of first-year teachers.
said. “Many of our students come see teachers that look like them,” she The survey assesses relevant
from rural schools, and may have said. “They need to have relationships educator preparation programs’
misconceptions about the schools in with teachers in which they can see
big cities. We are starting to see more themselves, so it’s really important effectiveness in preparing those
and more students choosing urban to us to have a diverse teacher teachers to succeed in the
schools.” population. We’ve really worked to classroom. Surveys are required
A higher number of teachers recruit students of color and students for all first-year teachers who
became elementary school teachers from economically challenged may be interns in an alternative
(122) and held a higher retention backgrounds so that we’re preparing certification program or newly
rate (89.3 percent) than high school, teachers that more closely mirror the
75 teachers with an 82.7 percent students they’re serving.” certified first-year teachers. The
retention rate. The high teacher retention rates are survey applies only to Texas
“We have a large and well- an indication that Sam Houston has a educator preparation programs.
recognized elementary program,” strong program, Ellis said. TEA established partnerships
she said. “We’re one of the top “What these numbers don’t show with organizations like the
producers of elementary teachers in is that we have this 87 percent still
the state. The middle school and teaching over the five years, but Texas Comprehensive Center
high school programs are where we a significant portion of those 13 at SEDL, and WestED to
see the majority of students getting percent have gone on to become develop the principal surveys.
alternatively certified. There’s a other educational professionals like Numerous stakeholder meetings
perception in teacher education that in principals, counselors or librarians,” were held to ensure the validity
order to teach middle school and high she said.
school, all you really have to know is “We produce great teachers who of the instrument. The survey
the content area. love kids,” she said. “We are the is authorized by Senate Bill
“For example, some might think, premiere teaching program in the state 174, passed by the 81st Texas
‘if I want to be a math high school and have a great reputation, and I Legislature in 2009, and included
teacher, then all I really need to know don’t think that’s by accident. We have in 19 Texas Administrative
is math,’” she said. “’But, if I want students that really love what they’re Code (TAC) Chapter 229,
to teach elementary school, what I doing and intend to make a career out
really need to know is how to teach.’ I of education.” Accountability System for
think that’s a false perception. Because The Center for Research Evaluation Educator Preparation (ASEP).
of this, we see more people who get and Advancement of Teacher When asked “What is your
their alternative certification after Education is grant funded and housed overall evaluation of how the
getting their bachelor’s degree from at the University of Houston. It’s a EPP prepared this teacher?” Sam
a university at the middle school and multi-system educational research
high school level. consortium of 58 institutions across Houston State University first
“I think that hurts them in the Texas and focuses on issues of teacher year teachers rated at 94% as
long run because they could have preparation and teacher quality. sufficient or well prepared.

Sam Houston State University | College of Education Annual Report 2017 5