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Mon, 02/09/2009 - 3:16pm
Portland State’s Graduate School of Education has been selected as the 2005 recipient of the “Best Practice Award in Support of Diversity” by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). The award will be given out in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on February 23, 2005, starting at 9 a.m. EST.
The national award, sponsored by AACTE’s Committee on Multicultural Education, recognizes the infusion of diversity throughout all components of a school, college or department of education as critical to quality teacher education and professional development.
The Graduate School of Education (GSE) is being honored for its commitment to making an “Intentionally Inclusive Community” (IIC) comprised of students, staff, faculty, administrators and partners within the GSE who support diversity, equity and social justice. Community members engage in supporting and infusing diversity in every aspect of their work, which is reflected in the climate, professional development, curriculum design, diversity of faculty, staff and students, and community impact of the GSE.
“This award recognizes progress made toward our goals of promoting social justice, eliminating racism and overcoming the effects of discrimination,” said Phyllis Edmundson, dean of the Graduate School of Education. “We accept it with gratitude for the honor it represents and with a continuing commitment to the work yet to do to realize our aspirations for inclusiveness and justice.”
Work to focus GSE efforts on diversity resulted in a comprehensive approach that began in 1998. Since then the GSE has taken many steps to build the IIC including:
* Developing a faculty recruitment policy requiring applicants to document experience in multicultural settings;
* Acquiring funding and support for the Bilingual Teacher Pathway (BTP) Program, a teacher licensure program for bilingual, bicultural educational assistants;
* Strengthening the 15-year Portland Teachers (PT) Program, a licensure program for recruiting and supporting teachers of color;
* Collaborative faculty study of curriculum and instruction resulting in programs and policies to meet the needs of diverse learners;
* Field placements for all students in multicultural settings.
Documented results from these initiatives in diversity include:
* Faculty from underrepresented groups now hold 21 percent of the tenure lines, up from 10 percent in 1998;
* Since 1992, over 100 students of color graduated from the PT Program;
* Since 1998, 90 bilingual, bicultural students have graduated from the BTP Program and earned licenses to teach in one of 21 partner school districts;
* Percentage of students from under-represented groups in the GSE increased from 11 percent in 1999 to 17 percent in 2004;
* A national distance education program now prepares teachers of learners with visual impairments;
* Statewide leadership by faculty in curriculum and standards for preparing culturally competent school administrators, and as members of the state superintendent’s advisory board for closing the achievement gap.
AACTE is a national, voluntary association of colleges and universities with undergraduate or graduate programs to prepare professional educators. The 785 AACTE member institutions graduate approximately 90 percent of the nation’s new teachers and other educators each year. The AACTE’s Best Practice Awards were designed to recognize institutions who have demonstrated "best practice" in achieving AACTE's strategic goals. Awarded for the first time in 1997, AACTE presents eight Best Practice Awards each year. AACTE’s is headquartered in Washington, DC.
PSU’s Graduate School of Education is Oregon’s largest and most comprehensive school of education. The GSE prepares teachers, principals, counselors, and adult educators for roles as educational leaders in the state and region. Its faculty collaborates with PSU students, as well as the community’s teachers and administrators, to create effective educational environments that are sensitive to the diverse needs of an urban setting.
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The national award, sponsored by AACTE’s Committee on Multicultural Education, recognizes the infusion of diversity throughout all components of a school, college or department of education as critical to quality teacher education and professional development.
The Graduate School of Education (GSE) is being honored for its commitment to making an “Intentionally Inclusive Community” (IIC) comprised of students, staff, faculty, administrators and partners within the GSE who support diversity, equity and social justice. Community members engage in supporting and infusing diversity in every aspect of their work, which is reflected in the climate, professional development, curriculum design, diversity of faculty, staff and students, and community impact of the GSE.
“This award recognizes progress made toward our goals of promoting social justice, eliminating racism and overcoming the effects of discrimination,” said Phyllis Edmundson, dean of the Graduate School of Education. “We accept it with gratitude for the honor it represents and with a continuing commitment to the work yet to do to realize our aspirations for inclusiveness and justice.”
Work to focus GSE efforts on diversity resulted in a comprehensive approach that began in 1998. Since then the GSE has taken many steps to build the IIC including:
* Developing a faculty recruitment policy requiring applicants to document experience in multicultural settings;
* Acquiring funding and support for the Bilingual Teacher Pathway (BTP) Program, a teacher licensure program for bilingual, bicultural educational assistants;
* Strengthening the 15-year Portland Teachers (PT) Program, a licensure program for recruiting and supporting teachers of color;
* Collaborative faculty study of curriculum and instruction resulting in programs and policies to meet the needs of diverse learners;
* Field placements for all students in multicultural settings.
Documented results from these initiatives in diversity include:
* Faculty from underrepresented groups now hold 21 percent of the tenure lines, up from 10 percent in 1998;
* Since 1992, over 100 students of color graduated from the PT Program;
* Since 1998, 90 bilingual, bicultural students have graduated from the BTP Program and earned licenses to teach in one of 21 partner school districts;
* Percentage of students from under-represented groups in the GSE increased from 11 percent in 1999 to 17 percent in 2004;
* A national distance education program now prepares teachers of learners with visual impairments;
* Statewide leadership by faculty in curriculum and standards for preparing culturally competent school administrators, and as members of the state superintendent’s advisory board for closing the achievement gap.
AACTE is a national, voluntary association of colleges and universities with undergraduate or graduate programs to prepare professional educators. The 785 AACTE member institutions graduate approximately 90 percent of the nation’s new teachers and other educators each year. The AACTE’s Best Practice Awards were designed to recognize institutions who have demonstrated "best practice" in achieving AACTE's strategic goals. Awarded for the first time in 1997, AACTE presents eight Best Practice Awards each year. AACTE’s is headquartered in Washington, DC.
PSU’s Graduate School of Education is Oregon’s largest and most comprehensive school of education. The GSE prepares teachers, principals, counselors, and adult educators for roles as educational leaders in the state and region. Its faculty collaborates with PSU students, as well as the community’s teachers and administrators, to create effective educational environments that are sensitive to the diverse needs of an urban setting.
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Dateline:
Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 12:00am