1. UNIVERSITY AND PK12 PARTNERSHIP PROMOTES QUALITY TEACHER CANDIDATES
Presented by:
Dr. Carissa Gober
Dr. Cherona Hicklin
Dr. Kathy Tackett

2. INTRODUCTIONS
Dr. Carissa Gober, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, Missouri Southern State University Dr. Cherona Hicklin, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, Missouri Southern State University Dr. Kathy Tackett, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Carl Junction R1 School District

3. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES
Investigate the partnership between MSSU and Carl Junction R-1 School District
Discuss how MSSU addressed weaknesses reported by both first year teachers and administrators in their blended coursework
Explore potential partnerships between educational preparation programs and PK12 educational institutions

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP
This cohort model blends the coursework of Pedagogy, Microteaching and Classroom Management in a three hour block and meets on the Carl Junction PK12 campus twice a week
Dr. Gober and Dr. Hicklin co-plan and co-teach the coursework using their combined PK12 teaching, instructional coaching and administrative experiences along with the expertise of Carl Junction PK12 administration, teachers and staff.

5. CARL JUNCTION SCHOOLS Rural District in Southwest Missouri
11 miles from MSSU
District borders Kansas State Line
Approximately 3,100 students
241 Teachers
Hire majority of teachers from MSSU and Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
Five School Buildings + Two Administrative Buildings
Three buildings located across the street from each other (PK-6)
Two buildings attached (JH & HS)
Administrative Building is previous school building

6. History CAEP Standard One Committee
First partnership started at Joplin High School
Carl Junction partnership started 2017-present
Collaborative meetings
Point of contact
Classroom space
Number of students
Resources
Technology
Schedule

7. WHAT DATA SUGGESTED Parent interactions Classroom Management IEP’s
Differentiation

8. AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES
Contextual Factor Bus Tour
Classroom Arrangement Scavenger Hunt
Simulated IEP Meeting
Simulated Parent Teacher Conferences
Breakout EDU
CPI Overview
BIST
Thirty-Two Hour Internship in Pedagogy (placements given week two)
Thirteen Hour Internship in Classroom Management

9. PK12 BENEFITS Partnership serves a recruitment tool for CJ Schools
District gets the opportunity to know candidates well
District is able to train in areas of district focus
District gets to share the great things we are doing
District teachers believe they are helping train the next generation of educators, making district teachers even better

10. PK12 BENEFITS, cont.
Allows JI students to evaluate CJ Schools as a prospective employer
JI students are observing more often and more consistently
JI students have the opportunity to build better relationships
with CJ teachers and students
District shares more than just classwork. (i.e. Interns see extra
duties, PBS in action, other specials, lunchroom, etc.)

11. PK12 Staff Feedback
“I feel that others that have not had the (CJ JI) experience may not have as much ease!”
“It’s great that they (JI students) can come over easily to get hours in and then head back to their class.”
“MSSU is sending us wonderful students who have a passion for teaching.”
“It (the JI program) allows them (JI students) to get a grasp on what a classroom is like before they get into their student teaching semester. ...it is something I wish I did more of while I was in college.”
“I am sure the Junior Interns are able to have a more realistic exposure to classrooms rather than just getting in classroom hours.”

12. PK12 Staff Feedback, cont.
“It is harder for students who are not in the CJ JI program to get in their hours as they have to leave mid-day for classes.”
“I have had the fortunate opportunity to have two Junior Interns.”
“I think the program is a great asset for future teachers to partner so closely to a school district.”
“I have loved the program.”
“The JI partnership with MSSU is an efficient model for pre-service teacher education field experience. Students (JI) have access to instructional observation experiences across all grade levels.”

13. What Current Students Say
Why they chose the CJ option
Desired more district-focused experience
Widen experience around the area
Structured as a whole unit
Had the professors for other classes
Wanted a more interactive experience

14. What Current Students Say
Benefits of the experience
Able to directly apply the information
Relationships with each other, district employees and professors
Feel like professionals due to setting (ie dress, expectations)
Convenience of being close to observation classroom
Blended classes prevent repetition of material
See teamwork and collaboration in practice with co-teach model
Growth as a future teacher and team player

15. Contact Information
Dr. Cherona Hicklin
Dr. Carissa Gober
Dr. Kathy Tackett

16. Teacher Candidate Testimonial
The CJ Junior Block model completely prepared me for student teaching. During the CJ Cohort, I gained so much knowledge and experience about education and teaching. From that experience, I am able to lesson plan and create instructional strategies and activities easily from all of the lesson planning that we did during that time. When I am lesson planning, I am able to create lessons quickly and efficiently from the lesson plan model that we had.
During junior block, we learned a lot about classroom management and how to handle behavior in the classroom. Because of that, I have the most effective classroom management plan for my classroom and my students are well-behaved.
Microteaching gave me the ability to be able to teach in front of a class. I am more than comfortable teaching and I love to be observed for feedback. The cohort prepared me for constructive criticism. I always want to be observed for feedback to better myself as an educator.
Also, I loved the opportunity to be able to do hands-on learning with the school district. Since we were on campus, we had the chance to spend more time in the classroom. The CJ Cohort showed me what collaboration was with other educators. I learned so much about collaboration and relationships during this experience. Our class was like a family and that made it that much easier to learn.
Lastly, I had the very best professors teaching this class and that’s by far the most important thing that made me the best teacher that I can be. Most importantly, they taught me to always love my students or in my eyes, my kids. This experience was a once in a lifetime experience and because of this experience, I know that I am able to change the world one class at a time.