{"id":782,"date":"2018-01-26T11:55:14","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T19:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=782"},"modified":"2024-04-02T14:34:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T21:34:13","slug":"breaking-the-mold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/breaking-the-mold\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking the mold"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/em><\/p>\n

By Gregg Kliener
\n<\/em>Jan. 26, 2018<\/em><\/p>\n

What if we trained teachers like we train doctors?<\/h3>\n

What if part of your teacher education included an intensive, two-year residency inside a public school where you co-taught with \u2013 and were mentored by \u2013 a seasoned teacher from day one? (Think medical school residencies, but in schools instead of hospitals.)<\/p>\n

What if, during the first year of your residency, you were encouraged to substitute teach, helping fund your education and reducing the school district’s substitute shortage? And during the second year, what if the district paid you a stipend for teaching full time in a classroom, where you could immediately apply what you’re learning in courses?<\/p>\n

Finally, what if your residency potentially puts you at the front of the line for teaching jobs in the district?<\/p>\n

A newly-launched, graduate program is doing all of this, and more. Now entering its second year, Oregon State’s immersive Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Clinically Based Elementary Education<\/a> is a partnership between the College of Education<\/a>, Oregon State Ecampus<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the university’s online education division\u00a0\u2014 and one of Oregon\u2019s largest and most diverse public school districts: Beaverton. Just outside of Portland, the district has 2,300 teachers, 53 schools and 41,000 students \u2014 half of whom are minorities from homes where 101 different primary languages are spoken.<\/p>\n

Graduate students in the new program are mentored by experienced Beaverton educators, called clinical teachers. The first-year students are known as practicum teachers and hone their skills in the classroom two days a week. When not teaching, they take online and hybrid courses and can work as paid substitute teachers within the district under a restricted license.<\/p>\n

“<\/span>This is super immersive learning \u2014 from the first day of the year, the grad students are introduced as teachers, not as student teachers.”<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Second-year students, called resident teachers, dive in deeper. They teach five days a week while taking classes and earning a 0.4 FTE stipend paid by the district. During the second year, the clinical teachers split their time between two different classrooms, each run by a resident teacher.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is super immersive learning \u2014 from the first day of the year, the grad students are introduced as teachers, not as student teachers,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0says Nell O\u2019Malley, a senior instructor who helped launch the program and serves as director of education licensure at the College of Education.<\/p>\n

Everyone benefits<\/h3>\n

The graduate students are not the only beneficiaries of the new program.<\/p>\n

“Our partnership with Oregon State not only allows grad students to learn from our master teachers and apply what they’re learning in their OSU courses the very next day, but our teachers and staff also get exposure to the latest educational research,\u201d says Sue Robertson, the chief human resource officer at the Beaverton School District.<\/p>\n

Clinical teachers get quality help with teaching loads, and the district gains access to good substitute teachers, who are in short supply nationwide. And because the grad students are in the same school for two full years, the school’s entire staff and students benefit.<\/p>\n

A big boost for teacher retention<\/h3>\n

Studies show that more than 40 percent of new teachers leave the profession within three years, often because they are not prepared for real-world challenges ranging from socioeconomics, to special needs, to language barriers.<\/p>\n

Matt Nyman, the Oregon State instructor who coordinates the MAT program, believes it will have a significant impact on teacher retention rates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is learning by immersion \u2014 our students experience exactly what they will be getting into as teachers, and they are prepared for that,\u201d Matt says. \u201cWe\u2019re accessing the wisdom of practice from Beaverton clinical teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n

“<\/span>Our partnership with Oregon State not only allows grad students to learn from our master teachers and apply what they’re learning in their OSU courses the very next day, but our teachers and staff also get exposure to the latest educational research.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Competitive and collaborative<\/h3>\n

Although there are other immersion-type teacher education programs in the U.S., the sustainable funding model of the Oregon State program sets it apart.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving students in classrooms as substitute teachers during the first year, and then as part-time employees the second year \u2014 now\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0is\u00a0very<\/em>\u00a0different,\u201d Nell says.<\/p>\n

Sue has worked closely with the teachers\u2019 union, and so far, the MAT program is proving to be a good fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a very good relationship with the teachers\u2019 association,\u201d Sue says. \u201cThey understand that the better prepared teachers are, and the more the district invests at the front end, the more successful teachers will be in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another distinguishing feature is that everyone gets a say in which graduate students are accepted into the program and which clinical teachers get to work with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very competitive because both OSU and Beaverton have to agree,\u201d says Melissa Potter, university partner liaison for the Beaverton School District. \u201cWe\u2019re at the table when deciding which grad students will go into the classroom. And they\u2019re at the table when selecting the clinical teachers. It\u2019s very unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although it has been just a year, all parties are committed, flexible and looking forward to the second year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really lucky to have such a special group of people \u2014 both at OSU and here in Beaverton,\u201d Melissa says. \u201cIt\u2019s very exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 4<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>What if part of your teacher education included an intensive, 2-year residency inside a public school where you co-taught with \u2013 and were mentored by \u2013 a seasoned teacher from day one? (Think medical school residencies, but in schools instead of hospitals.) A newly-launched, graduate program is doing this, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[673],"tags":[180,26,80,25,24,633],"class_list":["post-782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives","tag-college-of-education","tag-distance-education","tag-master-of-arts-in-teaching","tag-online-education","tag-online-learning","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/graduate-master-teaching-main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-cC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":109,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/mat-beaverton-school-district\/","url_meta":{"origin":782,"position":0},"title":"Oregon State, Beaverton School District to deliver new hybrid teacher licensure program","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"April 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Master of Arts in Teaching with an option in Clinically Based Elementary program is a two-year, full-time master\u2019s degree program that immerses students in the classroom from day one, where they will co-teach and work side by side with experienced Beaverton School District educators.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A teacher works with four students in the Beaverton School District. 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The Oregon State psychology graduate is now\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Brenda Contreras is kneeling next to a student in the elementary school classroom where she teaches as part of Oregon State's Master of Arts in Teaching program. The child wears a blue denim jacket and has long, dark and curly hair. 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Oregon State\u2019s Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching is a flexible program designed to meet higher education professionals at their current skill\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-logo-600x400.png?ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2732,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-mat-sped-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":782,"position":3},"title":"New special education master\u2019s degree aims to fill workforce gaps, increase inclusive teaching practices","author":"Molly Rosbach","date":"March 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Editor's note: This article was originally published by Oregon State University's Office of Media Relations. Amid a rising number of students with disabilities and an ongoing shortage of credentialed special education teachers, Oregon State University\u2019s College of Education is hoping a new master\u2019s program will help bridge some gaps in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Two individuals in a secondary education classroom setting, one seated and focused on a laptop, while the other stands, pointing at the screen.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MAT-SPED-Photo-05-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MAT-SPED-Photo-05-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MAT-SPED-Photo-05-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MAT-SPED-Photo-05-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1406,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-growth-ed-ray\/","url_meta":{"origin":782,"position":4},"title":"Oregon State Ecampus booms in the Ed Ray years","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"May 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many people, including Oregon State University leadership, saw the life-changing potential of the World Wide Web. In the quarter century since Newsweek published its infamous article doubting the value of the internet, OSU has earned a reputation as a national leader in online teaching and learning \u2013 and that rise\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ecampus-enrollment-infographic.jpg?fit=744%2C432&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ecampus-enrollment-infographic.jpg?fit=744%2C432&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ecampus-enrollment-infographic.jpg?fit=744%2C432&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ecampus-enrollment-infographic.jpg?fit=744%2C432&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/kirk-tice\/","url_meta":{"origin":782,"position":5},"title":"Thirst for thrills involves big waves and Bigfoot, but education is Tice’s top priority","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"August 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Thirst for thrills involves big waves and Bigfoot, but education is Tice's top priority Since he earned his online Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree from Oregon State University, Kirk Tice has had extra time to pursue life's more important endeavors. 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