Senate Bill 599, misnamed the “Excellent Teachers In Every Classroom” bill, recently passed through the last days of the recent legislative session of the NC General Assembly.
A hack of a bill, it was sponsored primarily by Senator Chad Barefoot, as a means of addressing the teacher shortage in North Carolina’s public schools with teacher preparation programs that are run by for-profit entities that “train” teachers in short amounts of time to serve our state’s students.
While there do exist many talented people who enter the teaching profession laterally, those people do get training through a program already that allows them to take classes and be mentored as they “enter” the profession.
However, SB599 seems more like paving a road for private business to enter North Carolina to profit from tax payer money while continuing to “de-professionalize” the very profession that is the glue of public education in this state – the public school teacher.
The same say that this bill went through a final vote, the new state superintendent was in his first day of court battling the state board of education over how much the general assembly can control who runs the public school system in North Carolina.
The irony in this is not lost on anyone. In fact, it might be the most that some of us teachers have seen our state “leader” at one time doing what he does best: having someone speak for him about what he should be able to do.
But back to SB599.
One of the interesting items that surrounded the SB599 bill involved the Texas Teachers of Tomorrow. As reported by Alex Granados today on EdNC.org,
Texas Teachers of Tomorrow is an alternative, online teacher preparation organization that gave a $5,000 donation to the bill’s only sponsor Sen. Chad Barefoot, R-Wake, in the month prior to the start of the 2017 long session of the General Assembly. Barefoot said he did not solicit the contribution and has never heard of the person who gave it to him on behalf of the organization.
E-mails between Barefoot and a representative of the organization show that Teachers of Tomorrow wanted concessions in the bill that would allow them to come into the state sooner than the bill allowed. Barefoot refused.
But after the bill passed the Senate and went to the House, a House committee added a pilot program to the bill that could have allowed Teachers of Tomorrow to enter the state sooner, as it wanted. Barefoot said publicly he did not support that provision (https://www.ednc.org/2017/06/30/teachers-tomorrow-will-wait/).
Ethical questions aside (and there are many), it is rather interesting that the words “Teachers of Tomorrow” be engaged with “Excellent Teachers in Every Classroom” for a short period of time all the while our “leader” of the Department of Public Instruction was in court having someone fight on his behalf to give him power so that someone else may abuse.
But we already have excellent teachers in classrooms and we already have ways of bringing teachers of tomorrow into the fold today with proven teacher preparation programs that our taxes have already helped to pay for or people have already become willing to pay for themselves.
In fact, you can find that information on DPI’s website: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ihe/approved/.
There are over 40 of them in our state alone.
Here’s a map.
All of them have schools of education and even offer multiple degrees in areas in education.
And in case Sen. Barefoot or Rep. Elmore doesn’t remember these programs, then here’s a list they can call.
Appalachian State University
Interim Dean of Education: Dr. Melba Spooner
Reich College of Education: 828-262-2232 Licensure Officer: Dr. David A. Wiley
Licensure Phone: 828-262-6107
Barton College
http://www.barton.edu/education/
Dean of Education: Dr. Jackie Ennis
Associate Dean of Education: Dr. Ann Carper
School of Education: 252-399-6431
Licensure Officer: Dr. Jackie Ennis
Licensure Phone: 252-399-6434
Belmont Abbey College
http://www.bac.edu/academics/index.aspx
Chair Department of Education: Dr. Sara Davis Powell
School of Education: 704-461-5059
Licensure Officer: Benette Sutton
Licensure Phone: 704-461-6830
Bennett College
Dean of Education: Dr. Steve Willis
Chair, Teacher Education Program: Dr. Henry Johnson
Licensure Officer: Dr. Henry Johnson
Licensure Phone: 336-517-2178
Brevard College http://www.brevard.edu/academics/education
Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Betsy Burrows
School of Education: 828-884-8351
Licensure Officer: Dr. Betsy Burrows
Licensure Phone: 828-884-8351
Campbell University http://www.campbell.edu/education/
Dean of Education: Dr. Karen P. Nery Associate Dean: Dr. Sam Engel
Director Teacher Education: Dr. Chris Godwin
School of Education: 910-893-1631
Licensure Officer: Ms. Charity Tart
Licensure Phone: 910-893-1631
Catawba College http://www.catawba.edu/academic/teachereducation/
Dean of Education: Dr. James K. Stringfield
Chair of Dept. of Teacher Education: Dr. Rhonda L. Truitt Goodman School of Education: 704-637-4461
Licensure Officer: Dr. James K. Stringfield Licensure Phone: 704-637-4337
Chowan University
http://www.chowan.edu/academics/school-education.htm
Dean of School of Education: Dr. Ella Benson
School of Education: 252-398-6377
Licensure Officer: Dr. Ella Benson
Licensure Phone: 252-398-6304
Duke University
Dean of Education: Dr. Susan R. Wynn
School of Education: 919-660-3075 Licensure Officer: Dr. Kristen Stephens Licensure Phone: 919-660-3083
East Carolina University
Dean of Education: Dr. Grant Hayes
Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Vivian Martin Covington College of Education: 252-328-4260
Licensure Officer: Dr. Vivian Martin Covington Licensure Phone: 252-328-2278
Elizabeth City State University http://www.ecsu.edu/academics/educationpsychology/index.cfm
Chair Educ., Psych. & Health Dept.: Dr. Gwendolyn Williams
Department of Education, Psychology & Health: 252-335-3297
Licensure Officer: Dr. Sheila Williams
Licensure Phone: 252-335-3295
Elon University
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/education/
Dean of Education: Dr. V. Ann Bullock
Associate Dean: Dr. Ayesha Delpish
School of Education: 336-278-5900
Licensure Officer: Dr. Ann Bullock
Licensure Phone: 336-278-5859
Fayetteville State University
Dean of Education: Dr. Marion Gillis-Olion School of Education: 910-672-1265
Licensure Officer: Jenny Washington
Licensure Phone: 910-672-1587
Gardner-Webb University
http://www.gardner-webb.edu/academics/academic- programs/undergraduate-programs/schools/school-of- education/index.html
Dean of Education: Dr. Doug Eury
School of Education: 704-406-4406
Licensure Officer: Seth Oprea
Licensure Phone: 704-406-4406
Greensboro College
http://www.greensboro.edu/teacher-education.php
Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Rebecca Blomgren
Asst. Director of Teacher Education: Pamela Bennett
School of Education: 336-217-7264
Licensure Officer: Dr. Rebecca Blomgren Licensure Phone: 336-272-7102 ext. 262
Guilford College http://www.guilford.edu/academics/ Dean of Education: Dr. Julie Burke
School of Education Phone: 336-316-2363 Licensure Officer: Deedee Pearman Licensure Phone: 336-316-2270
High Point University http://highpoint.nc.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/sc rapbook/default.php?sectionid=1
Dean of Education: Dr. Mariann Tillery Associate Dean: Dr. Barbara Leonard School of Education: 336-841-9188 Licensure Officer: Dr. Barbara Leonard Licensure Phone: 336-841-9285
Lees-McRae College http://www.lmc.edu/academics/programof study/education/index.htm.
Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Pamela Vesely School of Education: 828-898-3382
Licensure Officer: Dr. Pamela Vesely
Licensure Phone: 828-898-3382
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Dean of Education: Dr. Hank Weddington
School of Education Chair: Dr. Kim Matthews School of Education: 828-328-756
Licensure Officer: Dr. Hank Weddington Licensure Phone: 828-328-7565
Livingstone College
http://www.livingstone.edu/academics/division-of-education-and-social-work
Dean of Education: Dr. Alexander Erwin
School of Education: 704-216-6899 Licensure Officer: Dr. Alexander Erwin Licensure Phone: 704-216-6899
Mars Hill University http://www.mhu.edu/academics Chair Education: Dr. Susan Stigall
Department of Education: 828-689-1177 Licensure Officer: Dr. Chris Cain Licensure Phone: 828-689-1495
Meredith College
http://www.meredith.edu/academics/
Chair Department of Education: Dr. Mary Kay Delaney School of Education: 919-760-8315
Licensure Officer: Dr. Mary Kay Delaney Licensure Phone: 919-760-8315
Methodist University http://www.methodist.edu/academics/index.htm
Dean of Education: Dr. Tat Chan
Department Chair: Dr. Jennifer Broom
Dept. of Education: Phone: 910-630-7057
Licensure Officer: Patricia Fecher
Licensure Phone: 910-630-7374
Mid-Atlantic Christian University http://www.macuniversity.edu/academics/department-of-marketplace-ministry/teacher-education Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Cheryl Luton School of Education: 252-334-2054
Licensure Officer: Dr. Cheryl Luton
Licensure Phone: 252-334-2054
Montreat College
Dir. of Teacher Ed.: Dr. Linda Neuzil Associate Dean: Dr. Constance Nihart
School of Education: 800-669-8012, x3672
Mount Olive University
Chair of Division of Arts & Education: Dr. Tommy Benson
School of Education919-658-7699
Licensure Officer: Dr. Ruby Bell
Licensure Phone: 919-299-4813
North Carolina A&T State University
http://www.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/soe/teacher-education/index.html
Interim Dean School of Education: Dr. Anthony Graham
Associate Dean: Dr. Loury O. Floyd
School of Education: 336-334-7757 Licensure Officer: Dr. Loury O. Floyd Licensure Phone: 336-334-7757
North Carolina Central University
Dean of Education: Dr. Audrey W. Beard
Assessment & Program Quality Specialist: Dr. C.E. Davis
School of Education: 919-530-6466
Licensure Officer: Dr. Audrey W. Beard Licensure Phone: 919-530-6417
North Carolina State University
Dean of Education: Dr. Mary Ann Danowitz
Associate Dean: Dr. Michael Maher
College of Education: 919-515-2011 Licensure Officer: Dr. Michael Maher Licensure Phone: 919-515-7160
North Carolina Wesleyan College
http://www.ncwc.edu/academics/
Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Danielle Madrazo
School of Education: 252-985-5163
Licensure Officer: Dr. Danielle Madrazo Licensure Phone: 252-985-5165
Pfeiffer University
Dean of Education: Dr. Dawn Lucas
Division of Education: 704-463-3151 Licensure Officer: Dr. Ann Crutchfield Licensure Phone: 704-463-3152
Queens University of Charlotte
http://www.queens.edu/Academics-and-Schools-and-Colleges/cato-school-of-education.html
Dean Cato School of Education: Dr. John Sisko
Associate Dean: Dr. Amy W. Thornburg
School of Education: 704-337-2580
Licensure Off.: Cynthia Crenshaw Licensure Phone: 704-337-2580
Saint Andrews University http://www.sapc.edu/academics/academ.php Dean of Education:
Dept. of Ed. Faculty: Dr. Teresa Reynolds
Phone: 910-277-5667
School of Education: 910-277-5340
Licensure Phone: 910-277-5340
Saint Augustine’s University http://www.st-aug.edu/academics-185.html
Dean of Education: Dr. Lynne Jefferson
School of Liberal Arts & Education
Chair Department of Education: Dr. Darnell Bethel
School of Education: 919-516-5158
Licensure Phone: 919-516-5158
Salem College
Director of Teacher Education: Dr. Sheryl Long School of Education: 336-721-2774
Licensure Officer: Dr. Sheryl Long
Licensure Phone: 336-721-2658
Shaw University
Chair of Dept. of Education: Dr. Paula Moten-Tolson School of Education: 919-546-8530
Licensure Officer: Dr. Paula Moten-Tolson
Licensure Phone: 919-546-8544
University of Mount Olive
Chair of Division of Arts & Education: Dr. Tommy Benson School of Education: 919-658-7699
Licensure Officer: Dr. Ruby Bell Licensure Phone: 919-299-4813
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Chair of Education: Dr. Kim Brown School of Education: 828-251-6420
Licensure Phone: 828-258-7730
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dean Educ.: Dr. Fouad Abd-El-Khalick Assistant Dean: Dr. Diana Lys
School of Education: 919-966-1436
Licensure Officer: Debbie Andrews Licensure Phone: 919-537-3962
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Dean of Education: Dr. Ellen McIntyre
College of Education: 704-687-8722
Licensure Officer: Kevin Parsons
Licensure Phone: 704-687-8811
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Dean of Education: Dr. Randall Penfield
Associate Dean: Dr. Jewell Cooper
School of Education: 336-334-3944
Licensure Officer: Dr. Jacqueline Dozier
Licensure Phone: 336-334-3923
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Interim Dean of Education: Dr. Alfred Bryant, Jr.
School of Education: 910-521-6539
Licensure Officer: Nuekie Aku Opata
Licensure Phone: 910-521-6879
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Dean of Education: Dr. Van O. Dempsey, III
Associate Dean: Dr. Ann Potts
Watson College of Education: 910-962-3354
Licensure Officer: Ms. Logan Sidbury
Licensure Phone: 910-962-2796
Wake Forest University
http://college.wfu.edu/education
Chair of Dept. of Education: Dr. Adam Friedman
Department of Education: 336-758-5341
Licensure Officer: Tracy Stegman
Licensure Phone: 336-758-5990
Western Carolina University
Dean of Education: Dr. Dale Carpenter
Associate Dean Academic Affairs: Dr. Kim Winter
School of Education: 828-227-7311
Licensure Officer: Dr. Kim Winter
Licensure Phone: 828-227-2000
William Peace University
http://www.peace.edu/content/page/id/392
Chair of Department of Education: Dr. Jennifer Russell
School of Education: 919-508-2291
Licensure Phone: 919-508-2291
Wingate University
https://www.wingate.edu/majors-programs/education
Dean of Education: Dr. Sarah Harrison-Burns
School of Education: 704-233-8127
Licensure Officer: Dr. Sarah Harrison-Burns
Licensure Phone: 704-233-8128
Winston-Salem State University
http://www.wssu.edu/casbe/academics/faculties/fe.aspx
The College of Arts, Science, Business & Education (CASBE) Dean of CASBE: Dr. Corey D.B. Walker
Faculty of Education: 336-750-2370
Licensure Officer: Ms. Jamilla Shepper
caffeinated rage 