York College Heads South
Posted November 12, 2003FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YORK COLLEGE HEADS SOUTH
York, Pennsylvania -- It could be described as culture shock on both sides, but it's definitely an education all the way around. York College of Pennsylvania has entered into a partnership with the Burke County Public School System in North Carolina. The College is sending student teachers to this very rural, somewhat economically depressed community in the foothills of the Tar Heel State.
Since the fall of 2002, when YCP first tested the idea, 16 education majors have spent their last semesters student teaching in Burke County. To date, 10 have accepted full-time jobs there as teachers. Five York College students are in the program this semester and several more will be heading south in January.
Pete Piepmeier, Field Service Coordinator for the York College Education Department, says, "The officials in North Carolina involved in the program love it. They've told us that our students are very well prepared." Piepmeier also says, "Pennsylvania teachers are among the most highly sought after instructors in the country."
The student teachers live in the community and are supervised by a Burke County educator, who goes into their classrooms once a week to observe and critique. The supervisor then reports back to York College. A sentence in the annual report of the Burke County school system perhaps puts the effort in perspective, "We face a serious teacher shortage and high turnover rate. We must recruit teachers nationally and year round to find the best instructors for our children." York College heard the cry for help and is working to improve the situation.
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NOTE to news directors, editors, producers, reporters: On November 24 from 9 to 10 a.m., many of the people involved in this program, including the student teachers, will be available to talk to the media at York College. If you would like to interview someone prior to the 24th, there are two College officials who would be more than willing to talk to you. Please call Randy Gray in the PR Office, (717) 815-1309, to make arrangements.
