Education Department Newsletter, April 24, 2015

Posted on Categories Newsletter

New ■  Ready to Student Teach Spring 2016: Students who have completed required coursework in general education by the end of December 2015 are qualified to apply to student teach in Spring 2016.  You must attend a mandatory Information Session to learn the process and instructions how to apply.  Attend on one of these dates: 

  • Wednesday September 16 from 6:00-7:30pm (Room TBD)
  • Saturday September 19 from 12:00-1:15pm (Room TBD)

Please contact Barbara West if you have conflict with work or class: <westb@augsburg.edu>.

New ■  Education Department Scholarship Recipients: The following undergraduate and graduate students have been awarded Education Department Scholarships for 2015-16. Congratulations to them all!

  • Lisa Fernandez
  • Simone Simon
  • Derek Ruff
  • John Boyd
  • Willie Webb
  • Pahoua Xiong
  • Lisa Fernandez
  • Tanner Oakes
  • David Fier
  • Linnea Trandem

  Advising and Admissions Up-Dates:

Testing requirements—The MN Basic Skills requirement must be met by providing passing scores on one of the three test batteries (MTLE, SAT or ACT Plus writing.)

ACT Plus Writing will be required for admissions into Augsburg beginning fall 2016.  This is a requirement for incoming first year students.  It is not required for transfers or AU students.

The Department of Education at Augsburg requires evidence of taking one of these test batteries for admissions into the Department.  Students must be admitted into the Department before enrolling in a 300 level class.  It does not permitted to take 300 level courses before you are admitted.

As of July 1, (POLICY CHANGE AT MN Board of Teaching, BOT) Augsburg can recommend students who have completed our programs in good standing if they have not completed testing requirements.  These students will receive a standard one-year license at the time that they are our program completers.  They can extend their one year teaching license for three years.  Within that 3 year period, teachers must successfully pass the testing requirements.

The BOT is currently seeking new vendors for basic skills test batteries. 

Advising—Day students in their final two years at Augsburg may enroll in AU courses if it is the only way that they can graduate in a timely manner.  Registration forms must be signed by Vicki Olson or Peg Finders.

Students in SPE and ESL may switch from Day to AU to finish SPE or ESL licenses.  Day students who need to switch to AU to finish out their SPE or ESL licenses can maintain campus housing.

If you have concerns or questions about the financial impact of this type of change please contact a Student Financial Services counselor immediately about the financial impact of the change. Students can schedule appointments online via the Advising link in Records and Registration, at the service window, or by phone or email.

New ■  Math Teacher Sought for AFA: Augsburg Fairview Academy seeks to hire a mathematics teacher for the 2015/2016 school year.  This position has the possibility to start June 15, 2015 for curriculum development, which is paid by $5000 stipend. Only electronic applications will be considered.  Submit cover letter, résumé, copies of licensure and transcripts, and three letters of reference to Heidi E. Anderson:  <heidi.anderson@afa.tc>.

 New ■  Harambee School Seeking Art Help:  Harambee School in the Roseville school district, a public magnet with a dual focus on environmental education and multicultural education, is seeking an interested visual artist to assist in helping out during an 8-day Art course to students in 4th-6th grades beginning May 11.  If interested, contact: <Christine.Anderson@isd623.org>.

 New ■  World Learner School, a public charter school located in Chaska, Minn., is accepting applications for candidates for a special educator position.  World Learner School is a Montessori school with the mission of creating a school that supports an experiential collaborative learning program that empowers children to unfold their full potential as whole and unique persons in classroom, local and world communities.

The ideal candidate holds valid MN licensure in multiple special education categories or is in a special education program at a MN college or university and has experience working with children. Interested individuals should send a resume, letter of introduction, MN licensure, collegiate transcript and two letters of recommendation to Director Deana Siekmann at <dsiekmann@wlschaska.org> to be considered for the position.

New ■  Americorps Promise Fellowships in Mounds View Schools: Mounds View has three Americorps Promise Fellow positions open to run intervention programs in their middle schools for next year.  The Promise Fellow program involves a year’s worth of service-learning practice and support. For more information, contact Greg Herder, Mounds View service-learning director at <greg.herder@moundsviewschools.org>.

New ■  Skyhawks Minnesota Is Hiring: Skyhawks Minnesota is hiring for summer 2015 coaches. Skyhawks Minnesota offers summer camps at neighborhood parks, schools, and community centers in the Twin Cities metro area. They are seeking qualified candidates to teach young athletes important life and sport skills, conduct camps in a positive and safe manner, and most importantly making sure that each child has fun! For more information or to apply online go to: <http://www.skyhawks.com/minnesota/>.

New ■  AVID at Eden Prairie HS: Eden Prairie High School plans to hire university or college students who want to serve as part-time tutors and role models for its Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program for the 2015-16 school year.  This program directly supports students to succeed in rigorous curriculum including Advanced Placement courses. Students interested in becoming an AVID tutor are directed to the Eden Prairie School website at <https://www.applitrack.com/edenpr/OnlineApp/JobPostings/view.asp?all=1&AppliTrackJobId=5714&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1>.

If you have questions, please contact Steven Rollin, Eden Prairie High School Gifted and Talented Coordinator at: 952-975-8049 or <srollin@edenpr.org>.

New   The Minnesota Historical Society has started recruitment for the Museum Fellows Program, The program includes a paid internship, an engaging Public History course and an all-expenses paid trip to Chicago for a week.  If you have any program-specific questions, feel free to contact Kyle Parsons at <kyle.parsons@mnhs.org> .

 New ■  Progressive Organizations Hiring: The Fund for the Public Interest (aka “the Fund”) works with organizations such as  Environment America and US PIRG.  They are hiring part time and full time campaign staff to work on campaigns for clean water, and to end subsidies to corporate farms. For more information, contact Natalie Townsend at <natalie@weareimpact.org> or 612-331-3315.

   Behavioral Dimensions, a private company based out of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is currently hiring students from junior and community colleges and undergraduate students from universities.  This entry level position teaches employees many valuable skills to use when working with children with unique learning needs.  There are excellent promotion opportunities within the company.  The qualifications required to apply for the position are also listed.  Part time and full time positions are available. Please contact Jay O’Neill (Owner & Director of Specialty Services) at 612-889-0278 or by email at <joneill@behavioraldimensions.com> for more information.

  Looking for tutors for Minnesota Reading and Math Corps: We are now looking for both full-time and part-time literacy and math tutors for Twin Cities area schools for the 2015-16 school year. The Minnesota Reading Corps and Math Corps is an AmeriCorps program that trains and places tutors in schools throughout Minnesota. Tutors earn: Bi-weekly stipend of $544 (full time; half that for half time) $5,645 education award for college tuition or student loan payments (full time; half that for half time). For more information, contact Miriam Queensen at <mqueensen@mnedc.org>.

  Interested in teaching abroad? Each year, Augsburg’s URGO office works with students applying to the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program. This grant pays individuals a salary to live abroad for a year to serve as an English Teaching Assistant in schools or universities.  There are Fulbright grants in hundreds of countries, and applicants can chose which country they would like to apply to based on location and grade-level placement preferences. For more information, contact Kirsten O’Brien at: <obrienk@augsburg.edu>.

  Summer MTLE Preparation Resources: “How to prepare for the Reading MTLE” (READ 1230, 1 credit,) will be offered this summer at 9:00 am-11:20 am on Mondays and Wednesdays, beginning July 6 through August 6th.

Math for Elementary Teachers/Foundations of Math 1 and 2 (Math 1050 and Math 1060) will also be offered this summer:

  • MATH 1050:   June 1st to July 2nd , Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday, from 3:00-5:50 pm
  • MATH 1060:  July 6th-Aug. 6th, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday, from 3:00-5:50 pm

For more information, contact Linette Manier, Normandale Community College Director of Teacher Education, Phone:  952-358-8437, or email: <Linette.Manier@normandale.edu>.

 TC2 is offering three different series of MTLE support sessions in 2015: mathematics overview (four sessions), mathematics intensive (seven sessions), reading and writing (one session). Multiple sessions of each offering will be scheduled in 2015. Please visit the TC2 website <http://www.tcteacher.org/> for current information and registration links.

 MTLE Preparation Modules: Online MTLE preparation resources are available free of charge to Augsburg teacher education candidates. Go to: <http://www.longsdalepub.com/courses /mtle/start/>. There you will need to provide the following credentials: School #: 48663 School Key: acsuccess Registration requires you to provide your name and email address, no ID Number is required. Please save your registration information, as you will be required to enter it each time you visit the site.

 Applying for a Position in Minneapolis Public Schools: To interview with MPS for a teaching position for the 2015-16 school year, you need to complete the following two steps:

  1. Go to <http://humanresources.mpls.k12.mn.us/become_a_teacher_in_mps.html> and apply for the 2015-16 Candidate Pool in your licensure area(s), then
  2. Sign up for a Teacher Hiring Fair where you’ll have the opportunity to interview for a spot for the 2015-16 teacher pool. After you sign up you will receive an email from Human Capital confirming the date and time of your interview.

If you have any questions please contact the Office of Human Capital at 612.668.0500 or <staffing@mpls.k12.mn.us>.

 Education Department Office is Also Open Certain Non-Business Hours: • Tuesday and Thursday until 6 p.m. every week. • Friday until 6 p.m. and Saturday over the noon hour every Weekend College weekend. Turn things in; pick things up; leave messages or materials for faculty; check your department file – we are here for you.

Submitting news to Augsburg:

  • To the Education Department News: Send your news to Joseph Erickson at C.B. 312 or erickson-AT-augsburg.edu.
  • To the Augsburg Now published by the Augsburg College Office of Public Relations and Communication: Send your news to C.B. 145 or now@augsburg.edu.
  • To the daily A-Mail electronic newsletter: Go to AugNet Home Page and login. Then click on “Submit News and Announcements” link.

Connecting with Alumni and Friends:

Augsburg College provides several ways to stay connected with Alumni and friends. Here are some links to get you started:

  • Alumni Information Update: Submit news and contact information changes to the college’s Alumni Office.
  • TC2 New Teachers’ Blog

Other Sources of News for K-12 Teachers:

Here are links to some of the very best online news sources for K-12 teachers:

  • Education Week
  • Teacher Magazine
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (also, subscribe to ASCD SmartBrief, a daily email news resource delivered right to your inbox).