WKU News

WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences has been granted funds to provide support for 100 first year Kentucky teachers that have been impacted by COVID-19 in Bowling Green, Warren County, Todd County, and Daviess County. 

Newly licensed teachers are both managing the learning loss of students as a function of COVID-19 and dealing with an unusual end to their undergraduate career. Many of these teachers, then-students, completed their final practicum and student teaching experiences in hybrid and/or virtual teaching environments. While these different experiences served to enrich the pedagogical practices that are consistent with a changing educational landscape, it also prevented the then-students from receiving a rigorous, in-person student teaching experience.  

The $150,000 of funds from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will provide professional development and mentoring to support new teachers whose preparation and induction has been impacted by COVID-19. WKU will provide systematic training and professional learning experiences using site-based learning and coaching specific to the needs of new teachers. 75 new teachers will benefit from reciprocal peer coaching, active application of classroom management strategies, and opportunities to effectively build collaborative relationships with other new and veteran teachers. New teachers will receive graduate course credit applicable to future professional advancement opportunities.

Teachers enrolled in the MAT Option 6 program will be assigned veteran teacher mentors who will observe and provide feedback consistent with the Kentucky Framework for Teachers. Each of these 25 teachers will develop personalized growth goals in consultation with their mentor. These goals will be measured and addressed in monthly mentoring sessions throughout the academic year. 

WKU graduates over 200 new teachers each year. Over 85% of these teachers are employed by 45 Kentucky School Districts within a 100-mile radius. The training and retaining of these new teachers is a top priority in support of the region’s educator workforce. 

As this program is developed and implemented, more information will be posted at wku.edu/ste. 

Contact: Jessica Basham: Jessica.basham@wku.edu or 270-745-4030