On Tuesday, Terry Stoops posted the new appointments to the State Board of Education by Governor Easley. These eight-year appointments carry tremendous authority and totally control teacher certification / licensing, which is a gatekeeper for those wanting to teach. Many wonder why teacher certification in the state is tied to classes taught ONLY through the ?approved? universities. Looking at the 11 appointed members of the state board, it only takes seconds to link the dots. Remember education classes are ?cash cows? (classes are taught in lecture style halls that do not require labs, labs for education training are classrooms already paid for by the public education system).
Four members receive paychecks from the University system:
Eulade Watt: Special Assistant to Vice Chancellor for Research, UNCC (newly appointed)
Kevin Howel: Assistant to the Chancellor for external affairs for NC State (newly appointed)
Michelle Howard Vital: Interim Chancellor of Winston-Salem State
Wayne McDevitt: Senior Vice President for University Affairs
Six members are alumni of the University system:
Shirley Harris: Appalachian State & UNCC
Patricia Willoughby: UNC-Chapel Hill; former ed. Professor at Meredith
John Tate: UNC-Chapel Hill
Robert Speed: Appalachian State
Kathy Taft: NC State & East Carolina – in ECU?s College of Education Educator Hall of Fame
Howard Lee: UNC-Chapel Hill
One member attended elsewhere: Melissa Bartlett: Teacher, Graduated from Old Dominion University, in VA
There is no problem with these folks working for or graduating from the NC University System, The problem rests in the fact they limit alternative pathways into teaching and mandate more university classes (cash cows) than necessary.
Lateral entry deals with individuals who already hold degrees but not in ?education.? The Department of Public Instruction gave NC Community Colleges permission to offer all certification classes to lateral entry candidates in 2002. These classes were much more affordable, on line, and growing. However, the State Board reneged in 2003, and everyone had to go back to paying top dollar, at least those willing to pay.
Now there are bills to ease requirements, but the University System and the State Board have lobbyist actively killing the initiative. As always – follow the money, and you will understand motives.
