Pilot teacher program graduates first class

By Barbara Brown
For the past four years, quietly tucked away in the recesses of North Branch High School and a basement locker room of the Main Street School, future teachers have been earning their college degrees in a pilot program few people even knew about.
As a collaborative effort between North Branch schools, Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Cambridge Campus and St. Cloud State University, the Teacher Preparation Partnership inducted its first group of students last Thursday into the teaching profession.
The program was the first of its kind in the state.
The graduates, who ranged in age from 19 to 51 during the course of the four-year program, completed the kindergarten through 8th grade program necessary to become a licensed teacher in Minnesota.
After offering profound words of the lifetime commitment being made by the 21 graduates, Dr. Joane McKay, dean of the College of Education at St. Cloud State University, announced each of their names to receive certificates and pins.
The students officially graduated from the program during a ceremony held Sunday, May 11.
The North Branch schools provided classroom space and teachers from the Cambridge campus of Anoka-Ramsey college and St. Cloud State traveled here to teach, often bringing with them carloads of supplies.
Every semester, the students were immersed in real-life teaching situations and they worked as student teachers in the district.
The innovative program created many challenges, especially regarding tuition, financial aid, student fees and registration, said Dr. Linda Baer, senior vice chancellor of academic and student affairs for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
She said after trial and error and a lot of hard work by the school districtís teacher development coordinator Dona Yetter, St. Cloud State staff and Cambridge campus staff, registration and assorted business items were addressed and now are organized for the future of the program.
The first 40 credits of the 120 required to earn their degrees was offered by Cambridge staff with the remainder taught by St. Cloud State staff.
Yetter said the district currently is hosting a class of 37 students for degrees in special education.

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