Study Hall from School News Network
Join our rotating cast of journalists, school leaders, teachers and students to explore what's happening in school districts across Kent County, Michigan and beyond. We dive into the issues, challenges and changes related to public education today, and highlight the fabulous teachers and brilliant, creative students who make our schools such exciting places to learn.
Study Hall from School News Network
Teaching for Tomorrow: A Michigan Collaborative's Answer to the Teacher Shortage
These days, school districts are looking for more than a few good teachers, with not enough people entering the teaching pipeline and too many leaving it. The West Michigan Teacher Collaborative aims to flip that script by helping aspiring teachers become certified and current teachers earn graduate degrees and endorsements. Susie Dennis and Angie Drake describe how WMTC has been “life-changing” for them as they pursue their certifications this school year.
For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!
Well, hello everyone and welcome back to Study Hall from School News Network, your window into the public schools of Kent County, michigan. The new school year is well underway and you can bet some of the hardest working people in Michigan right now are the teachers. And you can bet some of the hardest working people in Michigan right now are the teachers. They're working every school day to present informative and engaging lessons to the nearly 100,000 students in Kent County Public Schools. However, in Michigan as elsewhere, teachers are in too short a supply. Numerous studies continue to show an increase in school district vacancies and a decline in college students going into teaching. Well, here in West Michigan, a multi-county initiative is working to reverse that trend.
Speaker 1:The West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is a partnership between Kent, ottawa and Muskegon ISDs and Grand Valley State University. It was launched in 2023 with a $19 million state grant from the future proud Michigan educator Grow your Own Program. Collaborative helps aspiring teachers complete a bachelor's degree, earn a teaching certificate and get a full-time job in one of our area school districts, and it helps current teachers earn graduate degrees or advanced endorsements in areas like reading English as a second language and special education. All tuition fees and supplies are covered. This past May, wmtc graduated its first cohort of 42 participants who are now teaching in Kent, ottawa and Muskegon County schools. A second cohort of 56 aspiring teachers are well on their way to a teaching career and two of them are here with us today. We've got Susie Dennis, a substitute teacher in Stony Creek Elementary School in Comstock Park, and Angie Drake, a substitute at Union High School. Susie and Angie welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1:You're both fast closing in on earning your teaching certificates and you're also good friends. I understand that is correct. Very cool. Thanks for making time in your busy new school year schedules. Congrats on your new positions. So, yeah, talk about you know what's going on with you in terms of the teacher collaborative program. Tell us what you're teaching, where you know and what your goals are for becoming certified and doing what you need to do to become full-time teachers. Angie.
Speaker 2:So we both had the opportunity to be in the pre-residency program. So we graduated with our bachelor's in May and then went right into the residency program. And now we're going towards our certification and I am teaching moderately cognitively impaired students at Union High School and I will be getting my certification in CI. It will take two years to complete the certification while I teach in the classroom.
Speaker 1:Two years, wow, even after your bachelor's. Yeah, so for special education.
Speaker 2:This has been a new opportunity for special education. Usually you have to get a certification in general education and like English, math, physical education, and then get a certification in special education. But the need is here. We need special education teachers. So this program is helping us get our certification in K through 12 special education.
Speaker 1:So when do you figure to have that full certification?
Speaker 2:In. Let's see, it's 2025. So in May of 2027, I should be completely certified and really close to having my master's in cognitive impairment.
Speaker 1:And you are a sub and you're both subs. Is that correct or not?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, so I, my role right now is considered a long-term sub.
Speaker 1:Long-term sub.
Speaker 2:But I would say that's like a teacher in training in the classroom that I hope to teach in for the rest of my career.
Speaker 1:So are you like working every day? Yeah, oh, I am the lead teacher. You are the lead teacher, okay.
Speaker 2:I was there all summer long. I am the teacher. Yes, okay.
Speaker 1:Now, does this count as your student teaching for your certification?
Speaker 3:program yes, it does Okay.
Speaker 1:Tell me about what you're doing, Susie.
Speaker 3:So I have been working for again Stony Creek Elementary for about seven years now. This year my position is the building floater sub, so I get to teach in. All the classrooms from PK to second grade is our building. I will be spending time at our other elementary school as well, teaching fourth and fifth graders because I need to get both grade bands. My certificate will be PK to six. Is what my endorsement is.
Speaker 1:And how's this going to go for you this year to get the full certification?
Speaker 3:So all the hours that I put in for subbing will count towards my certification. And then I do have a base classroom, which is in our Young Fives room, and so when I'm not needed to sub, that is where I'll be spending most of my time. That's where I'll have all my observations from Grand Valley and I will be done completely with the certification and my hours in. I think it's the end of April of 26.
Speaker 1:Okay, and how many hours of observation do you need to get that?
Speaker 3:So we need 600 hours of observation in your grade band Like for me, I need 600 hours in PK to three.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:And then you also have to have at least 50 hours of observation in the opposite grade band, which would be fourth, fifth and sixth for me. And so that's why I'm going to our other building. For almost a month I'll be over there working with our fourth and fifth graders.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay. So your full certification is coming a little sooner than yours because you're in special ed. It's a little more involved.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yes, tell me more about your friendship. How far back do you guys go?
Speaker 2:Oh man, yeah, we were talking about this earlier. We, um, we met in third grade.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:Yes, our sisters played basketball together in fifth grade and my mom was their coach. Yes, so we both went to small Catholic elementary schools and then in middle school, like seventh grade, we became friends. And then our friendship has just grown. Wow, we graduated high school together and now we just graduate from West Catholic High School. And then now we just graduated from Grand Valley with our bachelors together. Wow, and it's just been such an awesome ride.
Speaker 1:to just do it together. That's pretty awesome, oh my gosh. Yes. So now, when you got into the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative, did you know that you were both getting into it? Did you just like a joint decision?
Speaker 3:Well, I had gotten the phone call from my principal and my superintendent asking me if I wanted to go back to school, and at first I was like no, who wants to spend that kind of money?
Speaker 3:But then when they said it would be a scholarship and paid for, I thought, okay, you know what do I have to lose? So I applied. But when they told me about it I immediately called her because I knew that was what she wanted to do. And I called her and said you have to look into this program. You need to apply. So I sent her all the information, she applied and we both got accepted to the big interview. They separate these groups for interviews and we ended up in the same group.
Speaker 2:We were in the same interview group, of course, like what 15 groups? And we're in the same group.
Speaker 3:So that was kind of you know kismet fun and we both interviewed and a couple weeks later we both got the email saying that we were getting the scholarship. So it's been really exciting.
Speaker 2:It's been super exciting. It's so great to have someone to lean on and just talk to and just support one another.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And this gives us a lot of time to actually spend together, because with our busy lives and our children and work and school, we didn't get to see each other as often. So now we have that excuse to be like well, we have to do school, work, so yeah uh-huh.
Speaker 2:We had classes um in person this summer and we got to see each other twice a week. And during the school year we have cohorts that we meet once a month together and do some like professional development and we always look forward to seeing everybody, but especially especially each other, Especially each other for sure.
Speaker 1:This all sounds like fate to me that you're all together and you both have children of your own.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, nice, how many.
Speaker 3:I have four daughters.
Speaker 2:I have two sons. Okay, yes, teenagers.
Speaker 1:Okay, Keeping you busy there. I'm sure Very Talk about how you got to this point. In other words, I know you both had several years' experience in public schools before you got to this point of going into this teaching program. Angie, what's your background?
Speaker 2:So I've worked for Grand Ole Miss Public Schools for 19 years. I'm just starting my 20th year, first year being a teacher, but I've been an occupational therapy assistant for those 19 years. I've had the opportunity to work in so many different classrooms. I actually know all my students this year because I have been supporting them for the last few years. So doing occupational therapy for 19 years at JRPS has been a great opportunity. About five years ago around COVID, I noticed that we were just every year. I was just teaching teachers to be long-term subs and I thought you know what? There's OTs. We got plenty of OTs. We don't have enough teachers. I want to fill that need. So I started looking and going back to school before Susie told me about this program because I wanted to fill that need of being the teacher. Our students really deserved it. So I wanted to switch from OT and have a functional life skills classroom that our students really deserved.
Speaker 1:So as an occupational therapist, you were working with special ed students.
Speaker 2:Yes, so I started with physically and health impaired students and then in the past 10 years, I've been working with our moderately and cognitively impaired students and our students with autism at Riverside Middle School and Union High School.
Speaker 1:Okay, yes, and Susie, how about you? How did you get to this point?
Speaker 3:I have not had as long of a career in education. I worked a long time in mental health and then I took some time off from that. I have a younger daughter who is severely disabled, and so I was dealing with that when she started school full-time, though I was bored, so I started volunteering at one of my other daughter's schools, which eventually led to a hire as like recess aid, lunch aid Quickly went from there to subbing, and from there I went to. I was a reading interventionist for the last few years, which I absolutely loved, and I think that is where I've really truly found the passion for education. I never thought I would get into education, and I'm almost mad that I didn't get into it earlier, because I do enjoy it that much. So once I got the opportunity to apply for this program, I thought why not? Like I'm loving what I'm doing, I might as well get certified in it and continue, and it's been a great experience.
Speaker 1:I noticed in a story that School News Network's Joanne Bailey Boersman did on you.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:That you at one point had something called Mrs Dennis's School of Misfits. Tell us about that.
Speaker 3:Yes, that was during COVID. When COVID hit, I have a lot of friends and neighbors that are in the health care field and needed people to watch their children, and they were all still getting their little assignments from their teacher or their teachers. So I was basically doing daycare in my house while these nurses and med techs were all at work. And to get them to do their schoolwork, I set up a classroom in one of our rooms at my house and we named it Mrs Dennis's School for the Misfits, and I had a schedule for each one of them. I printed off all of their assignments and, yeah, I absolutely. We had a blast. It was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1:It sounds really fun. Obviously, you've both been in education for quite a long time, got ready to make the leap into teaching. Tell us how this program West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is helping you get where you wanna be in terms of being certified, being a full-time teacher, getting the credentials and the jobs that you want. What is it doing for you, susie?
Speaker 3:I think the biggest piece of West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is the support that you're receiving. They are behind you 100%. They are bending over backwards to make sure that you are successful. This program is intense. It's very intense, but I think in the end, that's what's going to make us more dedicated, more persevered and just amazing teachers. So I think that that's the biggest piece for me has been the support for it, and I couldn't have done it without this program.
Speaker 1:Angie, what's your thought on that?
Speaker 2:I totally agree, because I was going to school online and I was motivated I'm going to be a special education teacher and it was hard to navigate that by yourself motivated I'm going to be a special education teacher and it was hard to navigate that by yourself. And the program West Michigan Teacher Collaborative. I say that they hold your hand, they are there for you at all times. They know what you need to be successful and they're pushing you to be successful and I feel like we're going to be some of the most prepared teachers because of them. I 100% agree.
Speaker 1:So can you give us examples of like it sounds like there's a fair time commitment involved? What are some of the hours that you've committed and what are some of the things activities you've done with them holding your hand?
Speaker 3:I think this summer was probably the most intense we've had. In the beginning of the summer we start with a two-week program called the EdVenture that we do and it's two weeks eight to four and it's very intense community building, professional development. They get into different teaching strategies throughout and that was pretty intense. And right from there we start classes and right from there we start classes. So this summer I took five accelerated classes and I would say each class takes you about 15 to 20 hours a week to get all the work done because they're so condensed in those six weeks. So it was a really intense summer but it will be worth it.
Speaker 1:No kidding, what kind of classes are you taking for this program?
Speaker 3:So for the summer they're basically, you know, foundations of social studies and science, foundations of math. They're classes that are teaching us how to teach these classes. I did a special education class that just gives you that base knowledge because no matter what class you're in, you're going to have somebody with special needs and so, yeah, the classes were all just giving us the tools and giving us the strategies to be able to successfully teach those children those topics.
Speaker 1:Are these classes coming through Grand Valley then?
Speaker 3:Yes, okay.
Speaker 1:Are you going to Grand Valley to take them?
Speaker 3:We did this summer. We were in person two days a week at the downtown campus.
Speaker 1:Downtown, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:And then throughout the whole year we will meet once a month for a whole day with our cohort and we'll do some professional developing. We will get a credit through Grand Valley by going to those classes and it's a great way to meet up, talk to everybody, get some new knowledge. They have speakers come in and it's just a great opportunity to get out of the classroom and, just like you know, talk to.
Speaker 3:Suzy, see how things are going.
Speaker 2:You know, brainstorm, collaborate, just get some more knowledge.
Speaker 1:Probably coming together with all those different people in your cohort also just gives you kind of feedback How's?
Speaker 2:it going.
Speaker 1:What are you having some problems with? How are you dealing with this and that sort of thing? Right?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And you mentioned scholarships. What's the scholarship piece of this?
Speaker 3:The scholarship piece is that all of our classes, all of the necessary items we need for those classes, everything is paid for. So with this scholarship we do not have to pay to go back to school. Our books are covered, everything that you need for those classes is covered and I think that was another really huge piece with the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is so many times. People want to go back to school, but who can afford it these days?
Speaker 3:If you're especially a grown adult with children and a household and other things to take care of. Money is always going to be probably the biggest. Um, that's the word I'm looking for.
Speaker 2:Barrier.
Speaker 3:Barrier.
Speaker 1:Thank you.
Speaker 3:The biggest barrier to going back to school, um, so it's all paid for and you're also given a stipend. So, um, while you're student teaching um, because they know how tight that can be um, you're giving a stipend. The total amount is 20,000, which is amazing.
Speaker 3:And it's broken up into increments, which is still great, you know it's great, and so you get a little bit over the next few years, while you're getting into your teaching profession, while you're settling in, so you get that money that's going to be helping you. You know, stay afloat when you're doing all your student teaching and you're doing all your coursework.
Speaker 1:Wow, so you're getting that stipend right now as you go into it.
Speaker 3:We got a portion of it. Yeah, just now.
Speaker 1:Got a portion of it Okay.
Speaker 2:Yep. And what the greatest thing is too. Like a lot of programs you might get reimbursed by your district to go back to school, and this one, we don't have to pay any money up front. We're just going through the program and West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is covering all those expenses for us and our books show up on our blackboard and it's awesome.
Speaker 1:So how long have you been in this, Like from the time that you were accepted into the program. How long has it been?
Speaker 2:Because we were both pre-residency, we had to get our bachelor's. We started in January of 2024. 24. Yep.
Speaker 3:Yes, okay.
Speaker 2:So we've been grinding it out since.
Speaker 1:January yes, well, you know, in a way it sounds like a lot of extra work, but you said, Angie, that you couldn't be do this without it. Like no, the extra work is worth it, apparently.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is. The extra work is totally worth it for me and it's the support from West Michigan teacher collaborative. If I would have stayed with my other program, my other college, I actually would already be certified right now. But with this program I just feel like so much more supported and that I will be a better teacher because of it.
Speaker 1:What's the difference there? I mean, like you said, you could have just gone through the regular program, although you wouldn't have gotten this scholarship help, obviously.
Speaker 2:The difference is that you're sitting behind a computer, you've got people that maybe are emailing you telling you about student teaching, who maybe are in a different state, in a different state. This way you can actually see the people that are supporting you and that you can meet with them and you can ask them real questions about your job and about, like, the state of michigan and our rules and regulations and um, I just I just think that is so much better to for me and I could have continued that online program, but for me, it's all those local people in our community that are going back to school and just having having a team that I can lean on, because otherwise I was on that island by myself and.
Speaker 2:I was motivated and dedicated, but to be with, have other people on my island and it makes it so much better.
Speaker 3:I think it is much more motivating having a community that you have with you for that support and I think that the support between West Michigan, teacher Collab and Grand Valley has been amazing. Our representatives from Grand Valley have just been outstanding. They are incredibly helpful and the two of them coordinating together has been invaluable for us to get into this profession.
Speaker 1:So it's well known that teaching is a challenging profession. Oh yeah, it's tough. How would you say? The collaborative has helped you gain the confidence that not only can you handle teaching, but you can excel at it.
Speaker 3:I think the amount of rigor that we're put through I mean, like I said, this is not a, you know, this is a very intense program and kind of, how you pointed out, it sounds like a lot of extra work. But all of that extra work and all of that stuff that we're going through is just giving us more tools to use in that classroom, giving us more confidence, Because now we know we can do it. We have been through the ringer with these classes, with these cohorts, with everything. It's very busy, it's a whole lot of work, but because of that now going in, I know that I can do this, like I can handle it, I can make it work and I'm confident that I can, which has got to be a huge difference.
Speaker 1:I've talked to first year teachers who are like they'll get in the middle of situations like wow, what do I do about this? But you feel like you've kind of got a running start on this.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we bounce ideas off each other all the time and even in those cohorts we're constantly telling each other stories and like they'll give us examples, excuse me. They'll say like hey, you know, we'll role play a situation. Let's talk about how we're going to handle this. So it's been very beneficial.
Speaker 2:Yep, I have another friend that's in the program, that I met through the program, and she's going to get certified in autism and it's so great to have someone else from a different district to kind of bounce ideas off of. Instead of just like, oh, your own little team in your own district. Now it's like, oh, what are you doing over there? Or hey, what could we do that you're doing?
Speaker 1:So shout out to Amy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, shout out to Amy.
Speaker 1:There are people, there's another cohort being applied for this this month, I believe in September. Yes, what would you say to people like you ought to give this a shot. Why would you want to recommend this?
Speaker 3:Do it. Do not pass up the opportunity. If you have the opportunity to do this, do not hesitate. Absolutely do it. You will struggle at times but again, with the community that you develop and the community that you gain in this collaborative, you can get through anything. And I think that's the biggest piece. You know, they give you so much support that even when you feel like you just can't go on, they're going to be right behind you, shoving you back up and saying you know, get back to work, You've got this. I'm right here with you.
Speaker 2:I think anyone with a bachelor's if they have any that they want to become a teacher. If they think, oh, I could be a teacher, they don't even need experience being a teacher. They should apply, because you never know if you can get into the program. There's great people out there that can become great educators. They might not have an experience, but if you think, oh, I could be a teacher, you need to apply for West Michigan Teacher Collaborative. They're there, they can support you and you become a great teacher. It's life-changing to be honest.
Speaker 3:It's life-changing.
Speaker 1:Wow, I can't think of a higher praise than you guys are giving it right now. One last big question for you. You mentioned if you're interested in being a teacher. Well, like I said, pretty challenging area A lot of behavior issues, a lot of issues around pay, a lot of issues around workload. Why did you want to be teachers, Angie?
Speaker 2:To support those students. Like I said, I just saw the need for good special education teachers and I'm not here for the money, I'm here to make a difference and through the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative I'm going to make a difference and I know it and I feel confident in that and I'm just so excited to be there for my students.
Speaker 1:It's great to hear Susie.
Speaker 3:I think for me it was.
Speaker 3:You know, watching a child who goes from not knowing letters and sounds to, you know, reading full sentences at the end of the year was so rewarding and I loved seeing their little faces light up every day.
Speaker 3:And I work for an incredible school district. I love where I'm at, I love the school that I'm at and I love the community that I have there and they have been unbelievably supportive of me as well, and so I think that's part of it the people I'm with my teams that I work with. And again, the biggest part is just seeing. I mean they tell you these little kids they fill your bucket. Every day we talk about filling someone's bucket, giving them the compliments. I don't think I leave school any day that my bucket is not filled with these children just because they make you smile and I love watching them learn and succeed and be proud of themselves and I think that was the biggest piece for me over the last few years just seeing that I knew that's what I wanted to keep doing for the rest of my life is just watching this happen.
Speaker 1:So it's been amazing Love to hear this. You guys are the kind of people we want teaching and I would say your students are lucky to have you.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Well, thanks you so much for talking with me, susie and Angie, and thanks to our listeners for coming to Study Hall today. I hope you enjoyed the conversation. I look forward to joining you again soon on the School News Network webpage, schoolnewsnetworkorg, or wherever you get your podcasts. So see you next time and don't forget your pencils, thank you.
