UTPB 'SHARING' WITH TEACHING CANDIDATES

UTPB special education teaching candidates are receiving strong support from the national level at UT Permian Basin.

"This has been a dynamic year for this program," Karen Smith, special education program coordinator, said. "Last October, the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, awarded a $788,000 personnel preparation grant to provide financial support for students seeking teacher licensure in special education with accompanying supplemental certification in English as a Second Language (ESL)."

Project Share currently supports 20 students who are benefiting from this program. Another 20 students will be supported over the next three years. In addition to the program of study in teacher education, recipients complete community service projects in surrounding cities, attend state and national conferences, and participate in the exchange program with the University of Chihuahua. This fall a Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) was organized by students in the grant and is open to all students on campus.

"Improving educational outcomes for students with exceptionalities is the major goal for our special education programs and this will be accomplished by focusing on high standards which will help to ensure that pre-service teachers and other professionals will have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for effective professional practice," Smith said.