Metro State teacher licensure grad Patricia Hurrieta, principal of Denver’s Godsman Elementary, says that the guarantee “shows that Metro State firmly believes in what it is teaching.”

Metro State is now one of a handful of colleges and universities in the country who guarantee the work of their teacher education graduates.

To make that guarantee, the College will offer free classes to graduates who are first-year licensed teachers and need to brush up in certain areas.

“We are confident in the quality of our Teacher Education program, and establishing this guarantee shows our commitment to the entire education process that is necessary to develop productive citizens for tomorrow’s workforce,” says President Stephen Jordan, who also implemented the guarantee while president of Eastern Washington University.

Patricia Hurrieta, principal of Denver’s Godsman Elementary and a 1993 Metro State graduate, says that the guarantee will give new teachers an extra edge when applying for jobs. “It shows that Metro State firmly believes in what it is teaching.”

The College’s initiative speaks volumes, according to Colorado Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. “This extraordinary step provides a gold seal of quality that will boost confidence among hiring districts. I applaud the leadership shown by Metro State, its president and its board in providing this stellar warranty plan.

The Statement of Assurance says that if the principal finds that a first-year teacher needs more training, the College will extend the opportunity for him or her to audit a course(s).

About 2,200 students are currently enrolled in the College's Teacher Education Program. For fall 2009, 208 student teachers have been placed in 250 placements in K-12 schools, and will soon be heading into their first year as licensed teachers.

Adding this step to the beginning of a teacher’s career is important, says Ellie Baldwin, chair of the Department of Elementary, Secondary, Linguistically Diverse and K-12 Education. “The first year [of teaching] is key. Often during this time in a teacher’s career we lose good teachers, especially in urban areas. If the teacher is frustrated, they may not sign another contract. If the principal is not happy with the teacher’s work, the school may not offer the teacher another contract. It may not be a matter of knowing the content, it may be that they don’t know how to manage their class."

According to “Teacher Attrition and Mobility: Results from the 2004-05 Teacher Follow-up Survey,” the most recent study in this area by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 22.9 percent of 55,000 elementary/secondary teachers in the U.S., within their first one to three years, either moved to another school or did not return to the profession. The NCES is a research unit of the U.S. Department of Education.

“Coming back to a refresher class can help districts retain teachers who need just a little more support during this critical transition time,” says Dean of the School of Professional Studies Sandra Haynes.“The College is among only a few institutions nationwide doing this. We believe that the return rate will be very low, however, as Metro State stands by the quality of our graduates.”