University of Wyoming College of Education Spring 2018

Upending Educator
Preparation
An Update on the Trustees Education Initiative
By: Jason Harper
In Wyoming and across the nation, too few people are choosing to pursue
careers in education, which is resulting in a shortage of qualified teachers,
especially in high-need areas like special education, science, mathematics and
technology. Additionally, many new teachers do not have enough practice in
classroom experiences as they enter the career, causing them and their students
to struggle.
The Trustees Education Initiative (TEI) and the University of Wyoming
College of Education seek to solve this problem by changing the way educators
are prepared at UW. TEI was formed to elevate the College of Education to
the status of a preeminent college in professional educator preparation.
Proposed innovations are sent to the TEI Coordinating Council, TEI
Governing Board and UW Board of Trustees for approval. Once approved,
TEI then begins to implement and analyze the innovation. The College of
Education will implement the novel programs and strategies that are proven
to be successful through the TEI pilots into the curriculum.
Phase one of the TEI plan, steered the initiative from its inception in 2016
through the end of the 2017 calendar year. This phase focused on establishing
a governing board, strategic planning committees and an executive director to
get the initiative up and running.
Rebecca Watts was selected to guide the initiative in September 2016. Her
first challenge was to seek input from stakeholders throughout the state and
to plan for the long-term financial support of the initiative. As phase one goals
were achieved under Watts’ direction, the first proposed innovations started
to roll in.
TEI is currently in phase two from 2018–20. During this time the focus
will be on implementing the innovative programs and strategies that come
through TEI as well as developing continued financial support for the
initiative.
The first TEI innovation to be approved occurred ahead of plan in
July 2017. Since then, five additional proposals have been approved. Some
initiatives are already being implemented in candidate experiences in the
College of Education, others are multi-year efforts whose full implementation
A well-prepared educator leads a class utilizing
innovative technology and teaching practices
Education@UWYO Spring 2018 • 7