| 
These five students
in the CLASS (Collaborative Learning And School Success)
teacher education program at have achieved candidacy
status and are now working with mentor teachers with
the program’s partner schools. From left to right
are Stacey Potvin, Sean Moore, Paulla Billings, Bridget
Fitzgerald and Tammy Watson. |
February 2006
The CLASS (Collaborative Learning
And School Success) professional teacher program at
the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn
College has announced the achievement of candidacy status
for five of its students. Paula Billings, Bridget Fitzgerald,
Sean Moore, Stacey Potvin, and Tammy Watson have successfully
completed scholarly and practicum work in the elementary
education field attaining proficiency in child development,
content knowledge, technology, diversity, educational
philosophy, and professionalism. These students will
continue to study and research the elementary education
field at the graduate level.
Dr. Paul G. Caron, assistant professor
of education, stated that during candidacy the students
work with mentor teachers at two professional development
partner schools in Auburn: Sherwood Heights Elementary
School and Auburn Middle School. “Based on the
concept of simultaneous renewal, both the mentor teachers
and candidates collaborate to create and apply learning
curricula and practices based on current research.”
Added Caron: “They share their knowledge and talents
in creating effective learning environments benefiting
all students.”
In addition to attending regular classes
for their academic major, the CLASS candidates spend
one and a half days per week at one of the partner schools,
and devote at least 4-5 hours of this time with students
in the classroom. The candidates are beginning the process
of making connections between what they have learned
and what they see in the classroom. Achieving candidacy
status gives the students more time to practice the
theories they have researched and studied.
Upon completion of the candidacy period
of the CLASS program, the students work as teaching
interns for a full year under the guidance of mentors.
Students then graduate with a bachelor’s degree
in a content area, a State of Maine teaching certificate
(K-8), and 36 graduate credits.
Applications for fall admission to
the CLASS program are currently being accepted. More
information is available online at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/class
or by calling Jim at 753-6618. An informational session
and open house on the CLASS program will be held Tuesday,
March 28, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
|
