Bowles promotes teacher education at UNCP
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke welcomed UNC President Erskine Bowles, to the 4th annual School Summer Leadership Conference at the Givens Performing Arts Center.
The conference -sponsored by UNCP's Master of School Administration (MSA) program- was opened to the public and focused on, "Teacher Education: From Good to Great.”
Bowles’ top priority is producing “more teachers, better teachers, more math and science teachers and stronger school leaders,” he said.
Bowles began his leadership of the 16-member University of North Carolina system on Jan. 1, 2006, and has outlined programs to meet his goals:
- 300 new college scholarships for math and science majors from North Carolina willing to commit to teaching for four years
- 145 scholarships for out-of-state students to teach math and science
- 800 scholarships for “lateral entry” teachers
- distance education courses available throughout the state
- double the size of NC State University’s math and science education programs
- increase the pay of starting math and science teachers in low wealth counties to $42,000
- bolster math and science programs at Universities for K-12 students
“I am going to work myself to the bone to get the resources to do this,” Bowles said. “I don’t know if it will work, but if we’re not doing something right, we will try to change. We’ve got to try something new.”
 UNCP Photo |
Chancellor Allen C. Meadors agreed, saying “UNC Pembroke is deeply committed to its solid foundation of teacher preparation. We will continue to seek to attract outstanding students to the University’s education programs to produce the nation’s top teachers.”
Bowles gave his email address (ebowles@northcarolina.edu) to the audience of prospective school leaders saying, “If you think any of the things I have talked about won’t work, tell me.
“You’ve got to tell me,” he said. I’m not a career educator; you can’t expect me to just get it."
Following Bowle’s speech, panel discussions and small group sessions were done. The UNC president met later with groups of alumni, students and international students.
For more information about the MSA program or other education programs at UNCP, please contact the School of Education at 910.521.6539 or email soe@uncp.edu.
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The print edition of The Pine Needle is published 14 times a year during the fall and spring semesters. Updated: Sunday, June 18, 2006 © The University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
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