Tag: Teachers

ECC Launches Education Apprenticeship to Strengthen Local Workforce

April 4, 2025 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College is opening a new door to careers in education through a teacher apprenticeship initiative aimed at strengthening the local workforce and addressing the statewide teacher shortage.

The College is launching pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways that combine coursework, hands-on experience, and grant-funded support to create a practical route for individuals interested in becoming educators.

For more information about ECC’s Teacher Education Apprenticeship Program, email: teacher.apprentice@eastcentral.edu

These programs are designed to support those just beginning their education journey, as well as adults considering a career change—providing opportunities to work in education without leaving the community.

“One of the main ideas behind our Teacher Apprenticeship Model is multiple entry points with defined assistance along the way. Whether someone is just starting their education journey or considering a career change, this program makes it more accessible to become a certified teacher in our service area,” said Greg Stotler, ECC Teacher Education Coordinator.

“We’re helping people build a future in the teaching profession in our community while they continue to work in crucial support roles in our schools within those communities.”

The pre-apprenticeship options prepare participants for success in a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship and include roles such as:

Substitute Teacher
Paraprofessional
Teacher Assistant

Participants can earn certifications and gain valuable experience in local classrooms while continuing their education through ECC’s degree programs:

Associate of Arts in Education
Associate of Arts in Teaching
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development

In partnership with ECC’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program, the College also received official approval from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to offer an Integrated Education and Training (IET) course. This course provides immediate access to substitute teacher and paraprofessional credentials and can be combined with high school equivalency preparation or academic skill development as needed.

The success of ECC’s teacher apprenticeship initiative is the result of collaboration among several departments at the College. The Center for Workforce Development, AEL and the Education pathway are working together to build accessible, high-quality pathways for future educators. This effort is being led by Stotler, Todd Tracy, Executive Director of the Center for Workforce Development; and Alice Whalen, Director of Adult Education and Literacy.

The apprenticeship pathway includes benefits such as:

Paid work experience in education-related roles
Certification in First Aid/CPR/AED
Substitute teacher credentials
U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Certificate of Completion
Up to $500 in support for qualifying pre-apprenticeship participants

This initiative is part of a larger statewide effort through the Missouri – Southeast Pathways to Work (MoSEPWork) consortium, a collaboration of five colleges working to improve access to innovative pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in three high-demand sectors: teacher education, nursing, and advanced manufacturing.

MoSEPWork Consortium:

Jefferson College (Lead Institution)
East Central College
Mineral Area College
Three Rivers College
Central Methodist University

The project is funded by a $3.99 million U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Building America – Round 2 (ABA2) grant. East Central College’s portion of the funding totals $793,775 and will support program development through June 2028. The ECC grant budget includes:

Personnel, Fringe & Travel: $324,182
Equipment (including a 5-Axis Mill for Precision Manufacturing): $99,230
Contractual Services, Tuition & Outreach: $298,202
Indirect Costs: $72,161

College Receives State Grant to Encourage Math, Science Teaching Careers

November 1, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College has been awarded a state “Grow Your Own” grant to encourage students in its education program to pursue careers in teaching math and science at the middle school level.

The College is receiving $45,000 through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the form of a Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) award to address the critical need of STEM teachers in the region.

ECC was one of five two-year colleges in Missouri awarded a DEWEY grant with the intent to inspire more students to pursue careers in education.

Dr. Robyn Walter, ECC Vice President of Academic Affairs, said math and science were strategically chosen due to their historically low enrollment certification rates in the service area, as well as the pressing need for teachers in these fields within local school districts.

“We anticipate that by offering incentives for students to pursue certification areas with historically low enrollment statewide, those students would be more likely to consider those certification areas over others,” Walter said.

Scholarships

Under this innovative initiative, ECC is set to offer $1,000 scholarships to complete their first year of an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) focused on Middle School math or science. Upon completing their second year at ECC and providing proof of enrollment at a transfer institution for certification in Middle School math and science, students will receive an additional $2,000 to continue to pursue their bachelor’s degree.

“We selected these areas due to their historical low enrollment in our service region, and the school districts we serve are in critical need of educators in these fields,” said Greg Stotler, Assistant Professor, Education/Teacher Coordinator at ECC. “Students who choose science or math programs oftentimes are drawn into professions with higher salaries.”

The College expects to award the $1,000 scholarships in the Spring of 2024.

“This money goes straight to students in a joint effort of growing our own educators,” Walter added.

Transfer Schools

The DEWEY grant aligns ECC with their four-year transfer partners, including Missouri S&T and Central Methodist University (CMU), who can further support students through the Missouri Teacher Recruitment Scholarship opportunity during their student teaching experience. CMU and Missouri S&T are among the 15 four-year colleges in the state to receive $70,000 each in DEWEY grants.

ECC is also hopeful that DESE will expand scholarship opportunities to encompass additional certification areas in the future.

The primary objective of the “Grow Your Own” initiative is to contribute to the growth of qualified educators within the state and tackle the challenge of teacher shortages. DESE reports that just over 5 percent of its teaching workforce is either not qualified or underqualified for their positions, equivalent to 3,579 full-time employees, as of December 2022. The most in-demand subjects are elementary education, cross-categorical positions, and early childhood special education.

DESE’s data from 2023-2024 shows a significant decrease in courses taught by instructors with “inappropriate certification,” down from 45,509 in the previous year to 13,314 courses, signifying the positive impact of these types of initiatives.

This initiative, fueled by the DEWEY grant, is a testament to ECC’s commitment to creating opportunities for aspiring educators and addressing critical teacher shortages across the state.

For more information about ECC’s Education programs, visit www.eastcentral.edu/education/education/.

ECC and Missouri Baptist Strengthen Transfer Agreement

November 9, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College and Missouri Baptist University have bolstered the transfer agreements between the institutions.

For the past 20 years, the partnership between ECC and MBU has resulted in highly prepared educators within the community, according to Dr. Robyn Walter, vice president of academic affairs at ECC. This year, ECC and MBU revised the agreement update all the courses that transfer from ECC to the University.

MBU, with a location in Union, allows for students to attend in-person classes without leaving the area. In addition, the University offers many online options and transfer students can attend classes from home.

Walter noted that it is important for the community that educators from this area remain here due to nationwide teacher shortages.

“We appreciate Missouri Baptist’s commitment to teacher education in our community,” Walter said. “We know that when students start at ECC and then complete their teaching degree locally, they are more likely to stay and teach locally — this approach is needed now more than ever.”

According to Thea Abraham, MBU director of records, ECC and MBU have had a strong relationship since the early 2000s.

She said, although MBU is a private university, it accepts all CORE 42 courses that state public colleges and universities accept.

“For two decades we had a strong relationship, and the transferability of courses at ECC has always been very high,” Abraham said.

Abraham echoed the importance of MBU’s accessibility to residents of ECC’s district.

“Students can stay in town, taking classes at home or in-person at MBU’s Union facility, and they don’t have to drive into the main campus,” she said.

Students transferring from ECC to MBU typically are seeking teaching degrees or business-related degrees. MBU also offers a variety of other degree programs.

To learn more about transfer agreements between ECC and colleges and universities, visit www.eastcentral.edu/transfer/articulation-agreements/.

Area High School Teachers Recognized by ECC-NEA

June 21, 2021 | Campus News

High school educators have a profound effect on students in many capacities.

That’s why the East Central College chapter of the National Education Association (NEA) is celebrating the positive influence and dedication of those educators with the Inspirers of Excellence Award.

“We can’t accomplish what we aim to do for our students at ECC without the dedication of our high school colleagues,” said Susan Henderson, ECC-NEA vice-president. “We want to recognize that educational partnership in which we build upon the foundation they put in place.”

Each year, ECC students are asked to nominate a former teacher who has had an impact on their education.

This year, the ECC-NEA is recognizing two groups of recipients, those nominated in 2020 and those nominated in 2021. The educators received a certificate in the mail to recognize their contributions to the education of students.

Appreciation

Henderson said educators who received certificates were appreciative and honored to be recognized by former students.

“Thank you for recognizing educators’ positive impact on their students. After a tough year like this one, I cannot express how much I appreciate hearing from former students — It makes the difficult times easier to bear when you feel like what you’ve done matters.”

— Dustin Klenke, Eureka High School.

“Finding this certificate in my mailbox with the student’s note was very uplifting this week. Thank you for supporting our students.”

— Amanda Engelke, Rolla High School

“Thank you so much for giving students the opportunity to recognize teachers, what a happy surprise to receive this.”

— Ellen Domijan, St. Francis Borgia Regional High School

Listed below are the 2020 Inspirers of Excellence Award recipients, followed by the high school where they teach and the student who nominated them:

2020 Recipients

Joe Obermark, Crawford County R-1, Rachael Hollmann

Chris Scheel, Bourbon High School, Krista Licklider

Lucille Behrendt, Cuba High School, Taylor Rives

Desiree Gentle, Dixon R-1 High School, Delaney Plemmons

Dustin Klenke, Eureka High School, Joseph Eilers

Nikki Locklear, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Venita Kuntz

David Bond, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Megan Copeland

Terrill Story, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Megan Copeland

Zack Rogers, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Kyle Hill,

Michelle Auxier, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Megan Copeland

Melissa Brumagin, Liberty Christian Academy, Brooklyn Hunt

Angie Combs, Maries R-1 Vienna High School, Cheyenne Murdie

John Kinkead, Maries R-1 Vienna High School, Jaclyn Helton

Ken Wilardson, Maries R-1 Vienna High School, Cheyenne Murdie

Jessica Smith, Mehlville High School, Hannah Baker

Chef Amber Moore, Nicholas Career Center, Andrew Maslen

Kayla Pyle, Owensville High School, Addison White

Shirley Wright, Owensville High School, Tabitha Davis

Adriana Grimm, Pacific High School, Tyler Mueller

Garret Andreasen, Pacific High School, Jarred Snider

Heidi Boyer, Pacific High School, Shelby Flynn

Dr. Keith Peterson, Rolla High School, Courtney Kelley

Dr. Gwendolyn Fleming, Rolla High School; Asst Prin Rolla Middle School, Macie Parsons

Christy Dalton, Rolla Junior High School, Nick Reising

Josh Adams, Saint James High School, Cody Jones

Benjamin Martin, St Clair High School, Adrianna Collins

Benjamin Martin, St Clair High School, Benjamin Schwanitz

Donald Dement, St Clair High School, Sebastian Montowine

Ellen Domijan, St. Francis Borgia High School, Cayden Schall

George McKee, St. Francis Borgia High School, Jacob Brinker

Kayla Eckelkamp, St. Francis Borgia High School, Jackson Broom-Morse

Angela Chamber, Sullivan High School, Patricia Gassner

Sarah Rochleau , Sullivan High School, Madison Rudisill

Sarah Rochleau , Sullivan High School, Sydney Harmon

Brandi Gremaud, Union High School, Brianna Shirley

Danika Novak, Union High School, Hanah Wilbers

Dennis Smith, Union High School, Rachel Dains

Melissa Bestgen, Union High School, Alexander Hanneken

Nathan Hoskins, Union High School, Nathan Hoskins

Tina Kluesner, Union High School, Maddison Hammon

Danika Novak, Union High School, Kaylee Wentz

Jennifer Schwentker, Union High School, Stephanie Sachs

Melissa Bestgen, Union High School, Brianna Cornman

Nathan Hoskins, Union High School, Hunter Triplett

Kerry Holtmeier, Washington High School, Molly Eckelkamp

Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Colton Souders

Rachel Stahl, Washington High School, Jenna Crider

Whitney Crabtree, Windsor High School, Meagan Ross

2021 Recipients

Emily Joseph, Cuba High School, Charley Leonard

Julie Munro, Cuba High School, Kaylah Highley

Cragon McBride, Farmington (Formerly Sullivan), Brandon Royal

Melanie Behrens, Hermann High School, Geena Lee

Patrick Dell, Hermann High School, Geena Lee

Patrick Dell, Hermann Middle and High School, Hannah Gale

Amanda Sikes, Homeschool, Samantha Sikes

Jean Schaible, Homeschool, Anna Schaible

Heather Carlson, Hunter High School, Granite School District, Utah, Vaimoana Moungaafi

Ashley Prawitz, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Abby Parsons

Lea Hickerson, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla High School, Nick Reising

Kelsey McCroskey, New Haven High School (formerly), Julia Unnerstall

Kelsey McCroskey, New Haven High School (formerly), Lydia Otten

Kelsey McCroskey, New Haven High School (formerly), McKenzie Overschmidt

Amanda Peery, Newburg High School, Riley Jackson

David Peery, Newburg High School, Riley Jackson

Donna Hinson, Owensville High School, Gasconade County r2, Emily Copeland

Christopher Noce, Pacific High School, Chris Noce

Scott Hauser, Pattonville High School, Haylee Bartel

Amanda Engelke, Rolla High School, Nevaeh Skyles

Christy Green, Rolla High School, Janessa Metzen

Christy Dalton, Rolla Junior High School, Nick Reising

Rebecca Bolen, Rolla Technical Center, Angelica Gore

Charles Knipp, St. Clair High School, Sue Seyer

Sgt. Gregory Cohen, St. Clair High School, Kaitlyn Salsman

Jason Harbour, Sullivan High School, Madeline Marks

Jennifer Blankenship, Sullivan High School, Abbie Zelch

Dianne Smith, Union High School, Tina Makic

Michael Underberg, Union High School, Kaitlyn Salsman

Nathan Hoskins, Union High school, Hunter Triplett

Nicole Griffin, Union High school, Jasmyne Bradley

Teresa Springer, Union High School, Gavin Pickard

Nicole Griffin, Union High School, Alex Kuelker

Colin Flynn, Washington High school, Katherine Harrison

Dane Gough, Washington High School, Jena Spreckelmeyer

Grant Young, Washington High School, Emma Von Rump

Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Autumn Osia

Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Abby Riegel