How COD is helping develop new teachers

Learning has always been my passion.

The best teachers, in my opinion, are those who help their students learn to think, rather than telling them what to think.

As such, one of my favorite quotes about educators comes from poet, instructor and author William Arthur Ward, who said: "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

As the second-largest provider of public higher education in Illinois, College of DuPage faculty members take the responsibility of teaching our students very seriously.

A career in the classroom is complex. Faculty members must know their subject matter, adhere to their curriculum and maintain a deep, caring concern for their students.

They also must convey a love of learning to their students whenever possible.

The desire to make a difference in the lives of learners of all ages is a noble profession that must be respected for the work it involves and for the impact it makes on our future generations.

Interestingly, a recent survey by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools continues to make headlines. This study, which surveyed 538 school districts in Illinois, showed there is a problematic shortage of trained teaching professionals in this state.

The research was developed in response to concerns expressed by Illinois school districts - and it turns out their concerns were well-founded.

Sixty percent of the responding districts had difficulty with staffing positions, and 76 percent reported they had fewer qualified candidates applying for positions.

In addition, 16 percent of responding districts had to cancel classes due to a lack of teachers with appropriate qualifications, and 43 percent reported that the candidates applying were not as skilled as applicants from previous years.

College of DuPage makes it our mission to listen. In 2015, as the need for additional qualified, trained teachers began to surface, the college revamped its Teacher Preparation program to align directly with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.

Adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education, the standards define the knowledge and skills K-12 teachers must demonstrate to ensure their students meet or exceed the expectations described by the Illinois Learning Standards.

With change comes results. Enrollment in the Teacher Preparation program at College of DuPage increased by 24 percent this spring compared to last year at this time.

The upturn in enrollment, according to our program coordinators, is due to the college offering an educational experience comparable to that of four-year schools.

Students in COD's Teacher Preparation program participate in national organizations and have access to partnerships with local school districts that provide them with a "foot in the door" from the very beginning of their field experiences.

The college also offers a Teaching Online Utilizing Technology program that provides hands-on training for educators who want to incorporate the latest technology into their curriculum.

In addition, the college began offering a new paraprofessional certificate program last fall and is one of the first schools in the state to develop an Early Childhood Administration degree that prepares our students for direct entry into this field.

This degree provides students with the desired "Gateways Illinois Director Credential Level I" that sets them apart from other applicants, giving them a marketable edge when applying for jobs.

The need for highly trained educators will always be necessary. Most of us remember a teacher or professor who made a difference in our lives, who pushed us harder to bring out our potential - making the veritable cream rise to the top in our educational experience.

An exceptional teacher in my opinion is someone who continues to learn themselves, who encourages and inspires his or her students to ask questions outside the four walls of a classroom.

One of the components of education is, of course, providing students with facts, figures and information. But real learning includes the lighting of a fire that continues to burn long after a test, paper or exam is completed and a degree has been earned.

Let me end with another of my favorite quotes by "Anonymous" that I think sums up the experience of true learning when it happens in your life: "A mind when stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions."

Beautiful.

• Ann Rondeau is president of the College of DuPage. Her column runs monthly in Neighbor during the school year.