Fourteen students with a commitment to improving teaching in urban middle schools were the first to graduate May 11 from a two-year master鈥檚 program offered at 菠萝视频鈥檚 Peabody College in partnership with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.
The Teaching and Learning in Urban Schools program was instituted in 2010, when Metro Schools Director Jesse Register approached 菠萝视频 about developing the program, which has precisely focused goals for improving teaching effectiveness and student outcomes.
Students attend the program tuition free and agree to teach in Metro Schools for five years 鈥� two years while enrolled in the degree program and three years following graduation.
Coaching gives both teachers and coaches focused time to reflect and reconsider practices and ideas…
鈥� Lanette
Waddell
Open to recent college graduates as well as new and existing teachers, the program prepares students to teach in upper elementary grades with a focus on literacy, mathematics or science.
TLUS director Lanette Waddell, assistant professor of the practice of mathematics, says the most unique aspect of the program is the weekly coaching support offered to the graduate students by
full-time Peabody faculty.
鈥淐oaching gives both teachers and coaches focused time to reflect and reconsider practices and ideas,鈥� Waddell said. 鈥淭he students receive informed and focused feedback on their teaching practices on a regular basis, and coaches are offered an opportunity to understand how educational theory translates or does not translate to the everyday work of teachers.鈥�
Jon Loudermilk, a member of the graduating class, says the TLUS program is the best approach to achieving an advanced degree because of the time spent in the classroom.
This arrangement also puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with other educators within your building who are facing many of the same challenges you are.
鈥淵our classroom functions partially as your laboratory,鈥� said Loudermilk, who will continue teaching in one of Nashville鈥檚 hardest-to-staff middle schools. 鈥淭his arrangement also puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with other educators within your building who are facing many of the same challenges you are.鈥�
The Teaching and Learning in Urban Schools program currently serves three Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, including Wright, Apollo and Bailey STEM Magnet middle schools. The program will soon expand to include Neely鈥檚 Bend and Isaac Litton middle schools.
Peabody researchers will track the implementation and progress of the TLUS program in hopes of devising a model for other such partnerships.