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October 21, 2011
Metropolitan State University of Denver
College part of multi-state project to recruit and train more qualified teachers
Metro State and Denver Public Schools (DPS) are partners in a multi-state consortium of higher education institutions, local schools, education departments and nonprofits participating in Project m-NET (Mobilizing National Educator Talent). Funded by a federal grant, of which Metro State will receive $415,500 over five years, m-NET’s goal is to recruit and train never-before teachers to fill critical classroom needs.
DPS will recruit and Metro State will train 20 teachers a year from 2012 through 2016 to teach science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), or other high-need subjects in DPS. Qualified candidates -who already hold non teaching college degree- will enroll in Metro State’s Alternative Licensure Program, and will fill full-time classroom positions in DPS as they move toward state certification as teachers. Nationally, m-NET is looking to train, support and retain 1,111 teachers over the life of the grant.
Metro State was asked to join the project by The Ohio State University, m-NET’s lead institution, at last April’s Great Teachers for Our City Schools national summit sponsored by Metro State’s Center for Urban Education (CUE).
“These are teachers that are just really in high, high need and for whatever reason there is not a sufficient supply of them in the marketplace,” says CUE Director Esther Rodriguez. “Project m-Net puts Metro State again, in yet another way…on the national map.”
Although the project will emphasize STEM subjects, participating school systems can pick from a larger menu such as English/language arts, foreign languages, English as a second language, special education (K-12), as well as middle school math and English/language arts.
2Each participant is eligible for a $3,000 stipend that can be used to offset tuition. There is also a high-tech component. In addition to instruction and coaching from Metro State, m-NET participants will be able to use their mobile devices to tap into a virtual learning environment with an array of content lessons, both general and tailored to individual needs, e-coaching support and information-sharing.
