Easing the science teacher shortage

State mandated Transition to Teaching program pilot up and running at IUPUI

By Lyn Mettler

According to a survey conducted by the National Science Teachers Association, more than 60 percent of high schools and nearly half of middle schools across the nation report great difficulty finding qualified science teachers. In the nation’s urban schools, the situation is even worse. According to the Urban Teacher Collaborative supported by the Carnegie Corporation and the Ford Foundation, 98 percent of urban school systems have an immediate need for science teachers.” For people who really have an interest in teaching, this provides a vehicle for them to become qualified teachers and go through the experience needed to become a successful teacher,” said Charlie Barman, director of the program.

“Enrolling in this program ensured me the fastest way possible to obtain my teaching certificate,” said 27-year-old Amy Mugg. “Having individualized attention to make sure you are going to succeed is also an incentive.”

Mugg formerly worked in the horticulture/education department at the Indianapolis Zoo, but now hopes to teach middle school science. Indiana has mandated that all institutions that educate teachers implement 18-hour programs in the areas they certify by fall 2003 as part of a new program called Transition to Teaching.

The School of Education at IUPUI is the first to have a program up and running and is working on programs for English, math, social studies and foreign languages. Eleven students currently are enrolled in the pilot program which began during the second summer session last year.

During the fall and spring semesters, the students took classes two nights a week and worked in schools during the day alongside specially chosen teachers who served as mentors. During this year’s first summer session, they will complete their final course in which they will analyze their previous experiences, discuss issues related to teaching and complete a professional portfolio.