WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) A shortage of technology education teachers in North Central Wisconsin’s K-12 schools has prompted a Wisconsin university and technical college to try and help fill in the gaps.
North Central Technical College and Marian University of Wisconsin will offer NTC students a co-enrollment program. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be qualified to teach technology education to students. This program is the first of its kind in the state.
The collaboration enables graduates holding associate degrees in technology from NTC to crossover and use Marian University of Wisconsin’s education program to gain the teaching aspect. The thing that makes this partnership unique is that students can stay on the NTC campus throughout their studies, effectively keeping and encouraging them to stay in North Central Wisconsin.
According to the Executive Vice President of Student Affairs with North Central Technical College Jeannie Worden, 80% of NTC grads stay in the area which is another reason why she expects this program will make a significant impact specifically on Wisconsin’s north central k-12 schools.
“We are here to serve our communities. We’re here to serve our learners, so we want to make sure we are producing students that are going out into the workforce and are able to advance our communities” Worden said.
As the technology sector continues to show no signs of slowing down in business and in education, Worden and other educators realized the shortage of technology education teachers became an issue that could no be ignored any longer.
“We reached out to our district schools and they said this is something they need” Worden said.
