Contact: Jack Bailey Jbaile19@wvstateu.edu (304) 766-4109
INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State University’s (WVSU) undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program has been named one of the top in the country for contributing to greater teacher diversity by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research and policy organization.
WVSU’s program was among only 21% of the 1,256 NCTQ evaluated across the country and among only two programs in the state of West Virginia to be recognized in a new NCTQ report for enrolling a cohort of future teachers that is both more racially diverse than the current teacher workforce in their state and reflects the racial diversity of their local community.
“We are pleased with this recognition as we recognize that a diverse teacher workforce benefits all students,” said Dr. J. Paige Carney, interim associate provost and dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Recruiting a racially diverse cohort of future teachers into preparation programs is a first and necessary step in the path to a more diverse teacher workforce.”
In the Teacher Prep Review: Program Diversity and Admissions (2021) report NCTQ analyzed the diversity of each elementary teacher preparation program by comparing the diversity of the teacher candidates enrolled in the program to two factors: the diversity of the state teacher workforce and the diversity of the local community where the program is located. The full report can be found at .
“A diverse teacher workforce is essential if we are to achieve a high quality teacher workforce. One can’t happen without the other. Teacher prep programs are well-positioned to take the lead,” said NCTQ President Kate Walsh. “We applaud programs like West Virginia State University that are leading the way.”
The National Council on Teacher Quality is a nonpartisan research and policy group. More information about NCTQ can be found at, .
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