Contact: Anne Hierholzer
STARKVILLE, Miss.—A cohort of 94 new career and technical education (CTE) teachers have been honing their skills at Mississippi State University as part of their training and licensure to be teachers in Mississippi.
As part of the Vocational Instructor Preparation program, Mississippi State’s Research and Curriculum Unit (RCU) has implemented the New Teacher Induction (NTI) training on behalf of the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE).
During NTI training, RCU professionals teach new CTE teachers from across the state research-based teaching strategies, so they are prepared when the new school year begins. The training is required for all new CTE teachers without a teaching degree who are in the process of obtaining a standard license. Many of them come from industry-related professions.
“The NTI program offers teachers research-based strategies that can be used with high school students,” said Leanne Long, project manager at the RCU. “Teaching is hard work, and we hope to prepare, coach and support new educators, so they will remain in the profession.”
In the training, NTI participants attend sessions on topics such as lesson plan development, classroom management and assessment. Participants also visit industry partners in the Golden Triangle area, including some MSU faculty, gaining insight into real-life applications they can take back to their classrooms.
“It’s important to model for new teachers how they can incorporate industry into their classrooms,” said Lois Kappler, project manager at the RCU. “Making industry connections in their local areas will enhance their classroom instruction and increase the placement of students in the workforce after graduation.”
For more information on the NTI program, visit rcu.msstate.edu/Professional-Learning/VIP or contact Kappler at lois.kappler@rcu.msstate.edu.
To learn more about the RCU and its work to support public education in Mississippi, visit rcu.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.