The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008 - (Page 14)

Teacher Education News he monitors all students’ admission status into teacher education, helps them know if they fall short of requirements to stay in the program, and helps guarantee that they have met all the requirements to be recommended for licensure. That’s Barb Hill – the woman in SEC 159 who every teacher education major knows because of her job as record analyst since 1988 for the Teacher Education Program. Hill helps guide students though the many Iowa and program requirements for teacher licensure. Many of those requirements have changed over the years, such as the teacher education application. “When I started at UNI, we didn’t even have an application,” Hill says. Now, every semester she helps students complete their teacher education application and then processes 350-450 applications. Students also need to pass the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST). In earlier years, Hill says, “If students didn’t pass a portion of the test, they could work with a UNI math, reading or writing specialist and then take an unofficial test. Now that is not an option.” Students seem to seek out Hill for guidance and advice on passing the PPST. “You sympathize with them when they don’t pass; encourage them and tell them where to get assistance; and celebrate when they do pass. It seems like they’re your own kids,” Hill smiles. ill also tracks students’ progress in completing the teacher education requirements by using the new computerized UNITED Student System. She enters every step a student completes into the hundreds of student online files. Plus she prepares materials for the teacher education orientation every semester and spends many Friday afternoons in the SEC lobby checking off names of students who attend the many required seminars, and who stay the whole time to receive credit. UNI provides students with the required seminars on high-risk behaviors, substance abuse and blood-born pathogens. UNI personalizes other requirements, Hill says. “In 2000, the state began requiring a background check on all teachers so our pre-teaching students had to be fingerprinted. UNI has a public safety officer in the Schindler lobby twice a year to help students with this process.” Other teacher preparation institutions may simply hand students a fingerprint packet to complete on their own. Hills’ favorite activity is the Teacher Education Convocation, started in 1991 by UNI faculty and attended by a high S Barb Hill – known to all teacher education majors H percentage of students being admitted into the program. “I’ve attended every one of the convocations,” Hill proudly says. “After spending months nagging these students to get their requirements done, then I get to line them up and send them across the stage. I really like it – there are lots of parents, hugs and pictures.” “Barb really is a model of professionalism, high standards, caring, empathy and encouragement to all of our teacher education majors,” says Merrie Schroeder, interim director of teacher education, who works most closely with Hill. “She goes well beyond her required role as a record analyst, and it shows in our candidates and in our program.” 4 University of Northern Iowa College of Education http://www.uni.edu/teached/ http://www.uni.edu/ http://www.uni.edu/coe/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008 Contents PLS Recommended For Statewide Mission Iowa Legislature Funds Regents' Math/Science Initiative School Counselors Reinstated For All Iowa School Districts Human Performance Center Dedicated DVDs Illustrate Early Childhood Education Standards UNI Leads in Solving Shortage of Special Education Teachers Iowa Initiative to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies Service to Special Olympics Olympic Champ Brings Coaching Techniques to UNI Meet Tomorrow's Promising Educators Len Froyen Multicultural Initiatives in Teaching Program Technology Facilitator Certificate Program Offered in Fall UNI Only Regents University Offering Technology Teacher Preparation Curriculum and Instruction All-University Professional Development Day Premieres Barb Hill - Known to All Teacher Education Majors Teacher Work Sample - A Window Into Students' Teaching Faculty and Student Award Winners Graduates - Where Are They? Career Notes UNI College of Education Receives 1.1 Million Dollar Gift Scholarship Needed

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education - Summer 2008

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