vip program undergoes renovation By Diane L. Godwin
Mississippi is modernizing its teacher-education section of the Vocational Instructor Preparation program. The magnolia state is one of several pilot sites across the nation that is inducting new career and technical education instructors into the teaching profession with a new curriculum format. Oklahoma and Vermont are in their second year of implementation while Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Washington State and Mississippi are revising the instruction to teachers based on research recommendations from the National Research Center for CTE and the Southern Regional Education Board. “Career and technical education needs more industry-based instructors that have the workplace skills; however, many lack the classroom management and teaching background to inspire learning. This program delves deeper into the content topic areas through an intensive year-long program,” said Marilyn Bowen, professional learning manager at Mississippi State University’s Research and Curriculum Unit. Teachers enrolled in the 2012-2013 New VIP Teacher Education class are the first to study under the 11-month program that includes a 10-day summer institute, three two-day regional follow-ups during the teachers’ first year of teaching, three
NEW TEACHER education
summer 2012: 48 teachers enrolled in pilot • 11 month program • initial 10-day summer institute • three two-day regional follow-ups during first year of teaching • three onsite coaching visits • final 10-day summer institute
20 Connections Fall 2012
onsite coaching visits and a final 10-day summer institute to wrap-up the program. The previous program involved a oneweek workshop plus up to six online modules spread over a three-year period. “Just like the real world, education needs to transform itself to stay relevant and keep up with the supply and demand of business and industry. We needed to revamp the course content and timeline, so we can deliver ‘just-in-time’ practical information. Traditional delivery of college courses is not as flexible and beneficial to the teachers and the industry we serve,” explained Jean Massey, associate state superintendent of the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education. The current VIP program consists of a teacher-education section, an occupational-education section and a generaleducation section. Each section has been revamped over the last three years, and the teacher-education piece is the last to come into place. Teachers will still have three years to complete all licensure requirements in a timely manner, and educators enrolled and in the process of earning their accreditation in