WMU News

Area superintendents help launch educational technology certificate

June 1, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Three area superintendents will join WMU officials and students in announcing the formation of a consortium that will establish the nation's highest standards for training new teachers to use technology in the classroom at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 3, in Room 1062 of Kohrman Hall at WMU. Participants will include:

James Mapes, Superintendent
Van Buren County Intermediate School District

Craig Misner, Superintendent
Parchment Public Schools

Tracy Dubay, Coordinator of Technology in Pre-Service Education
Office of Educational Technology
Western Michigan University

Kay Royster, Superintendent
Kalamazoo Public Schools

Beginning in 1999-2000, the Consortium for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching with Technology will award certificates of recognition to pre-service teachers who have demonstrated exceptional ability in the use of information technology as a teaching tool. The certificate is expected to benefit those seeking their first teaching jobs and an aid to administrators who want to hire new teachers who can advance the technology revolution in their schools.

WMU students who intend to seek this certificate also will be present at the news conference. WMU has a long history of stressing the use of technology in education.

This local announcement will be followed at 10 a.m. by a live, interactive TV news conference from East Lansing with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. A year ago, Levin challenged teacher preparation institutions to cooperate in establishing Michigan's leadership in this area. Dr. James Bosco, professor of educational studies and director of the Office of Educational Technology in the College of Education at WMU, worked closely with Levin in helping to establish the consortium.

Representatives of the 10 public and private colleges and universities in Michigan that are charter members of the consortium will join Levin in signing a letter of agreement. Representing WMU in East Lansing will be Dr. Alonzo (Lonny) Hannaford, associate dean of the College of Education.

Media contact: Mike Matthews, 616 387-8400, michael.matthews@wmich.edu


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