The impact of Teacher Preparation Provider review: The catalyst for positive, sustainable transformation at Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University has experienced significant positive benefits through their participation in the review program carried out by Etio as part of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) Teacher Preparation Provider review program.
Dr Leah Peterson, Assistant Dean at the University, shared their reflections of the experience, stating, "We had some very experienced reviewers. They gave us rigorous feedback that was really meaningful and impactful." Through this process, the University was able to create a robust strategic plan and a more rigorous quality assurance system.
About the review program
The TPP review program is a comprehensive system to evaluate and hold teacher preparation programs accountable. The program ensures alignment with state education priorities and fosters continuous improvement in teacher readiness to ensure every aspiring teacher is ready for the realities of today’s schools. The goals of the program are:
- Provide teacher preparation providers with actionable insights for continuous improvement.
- Identify programs of excellence and programs in need of improvement and, therefore, inform enrollment and hiring decisions and interventions.
- Reward programs for meeting Louisiana's educator workforce needs, particularly in rural communities and in high-need certification areas.
The teacher preparation quality rating is based on three domains:
- Preparation Program Experience, as measured by an on-site review.
- Meeting Educator Workforce Needs, as measured by the number of candidates placed in high-need schools and the number of program completers in high-need certification areas.
- Teacher Quality, as measured by the value-added results of program completers.
A strategic plan to drive continuous improvement
The strategic plan, resulting from the review process, has had a lasting impact on the University's practices. The review identified areas where efforts were siloed and not everyone was moving in the same direction. Recognising this, the university has created a pathway to get everyone on the same page and working towards the same goals. As a result, they were able to improve practices both inside and outside of the classroom.
One key area that the University has focused on is career readiness and professional dispositions. They are constantly looking for ways to better prepare their students for the demands of the classroom. The feedback from the review process has been instrumental in helping them identify areas for growth.
Another prime example of how the university has responded to the outputs of the review is how they have adapted their recruitment efforts to increase representation and placements into high-needs schools. The University was able to increase its enrolment numbers, tackling the challenges posed by the pandemic and a devastating hurricane. They have recently hosted over 100 high school students on their campus, who were interested in becoming teachers, counsellors, or psychology majors. “This was a huge thing for us, having identified a need in our recruitment efforts. And it’s a path we are going to continue on. We’re looking at how we can get more school districts involved; how we can increase the amount of candidates that commit to Nicholls as opposed to other universities.”
Tackling potential negative perceptions about the process of review
Dr Peterson acknowledges that the process of review can sometimes lead to a sense of apprehension, but her team viewed the process not as a box-ticking or compliance exercise, but as an opportunity to embrace valuable feedback in order to continuously improve.
“There may be a little bit of stress or apprehension, but we promote the positive experiences that we've had with Etio - this can be a really great experience, and we can really grow as a result of the visits and the process. The point for us is not always just to pass everything and to get gold stars, but to see where outside experts identify our areas for growth and to see how we can be better.”
Program reputation and confidence
In developing the strategic plan, and delivering on its actions, Nicholls State University is something they hold with even greater pride, as Dr Peterson comments, “It's something that we tell our students and prospective students about, and something that we share with our districts. This is this is how we take care of our candidates. We are taking care of our districts so send your prospective teachers to us because we'll take care of them and we're doing all the right things.”
Embracing the Teacher Preparation Provider review process at Nicholls State University, and responding with intention to the findings at a strategic level, has had a significant impact on the ability of the university to engage in continuous improvement, and ensure their teacher preparation program equips candidates with the real-world skills needed for today’s classrooms. The review process has been the catalyst to shape effective strategies; the university’s desire and determination to seek meaningful growth and development has been the factor that has taken them on such a positive trajectory. As such, Nicholls State University is now at the forefront of preparing the next generation of educators to meet and exceed the evolving requirements of the teaching profession.
