• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Sunday, May 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

New Normandale program strives to increase teachers of color in special education

by MSR News Online
December 7, 2022
85
SHARES
1.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Submitted photo (l-r) Jim Mackinnon, Kimberly Hernandez Xochipiltecalt, Program Coordinator Kelsey Johnson, Tania Mejia, and Leticia Alvarez

Minnesota faces a dire situation regarding the lack of special education teachers. To address the needs, Normandale Community College has launched the SpedUp Program, an educational pipeline for prospective special education teachers, in particular teachers of color.

“SpedUP will confront the educational equity gaps in K-12 classrooms by addressing disparities in the composition of the special education workforce,” said SpedUp Program Coordinator Kelsey Johnson. “This program is particularly appropriate for working adults who already have full lives.”

The program is designed to recruit and support BIPOC students as they pursue their first two years of a special education degree. It is a cohort model that offers a full academic scholarship (tuition and books); professional development activities; connection to campus resources; and academic advising to ensure transfer into a bachelor’s degree program for special education.

“It’s hard working in a system that hasn’t been intentionally built for the success of people who look like me or are from underserved backgrounds,” said Leticia Alvarez, a paraprofessional in Bloomington Public Schools and a student in the first SpedUP cohort. “Working in the public school system, the funding is what it is, and this is a way to add more tools to my toolbox and get paid more.”

Normandale is no stranger to working to champion diversity in teaching, having successfully launched a program in the fall of 2021 that recruits and supports Black, African American, and African men into elementary and secondary education pathways (Sirtify).

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Normandale is also one of a handful of two-year colleges in Twin Cities to offer Transfer Pathways in elementary education and special education, which allows students to transfer to Minnesota State universities where the programs are offered.

Normandale Community College President Joyce Ester believes there is an opportunity for Normandale to do its part in eliminating achievement gaps by providing pathways for BIPOC students to attain a special education degree. “We have a very strong education program, and we feel like this is a great way for us to recruit and support BIPOC students in a field that helps change lives in our community,” said Dr. Ester.

“There have been a number of studies that indicate when students are taught and supported by people who they feel represent them there are higher success rates. SpedUp is the right opportunity at the right time for a very important field for communities across the state.”

As a program coordinator, Johnson has spent the last six months actively recruiting
prospective students, enrolling an inaugural group of students for the first semester of the
program.

In the fall 2023 semester, there will be an opportunity for 10 students to participate in the
SpedUP program. The program offers full-tuition scholarships for students of color
provided by a grant and aims to ensure students’ success at Normandale and beyond.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“For me, one of the barriers in coming to school was funding,” stated Alvarez, “and so when
the SpedUP program became available I was like, wow! It’s right here in my community, and
the tuition and books are covered. That’s so many barriers gone, and that’s what led me
here.”

To learn more about SpedUp, contact Kelsey Johnson at kelsey.johnson@normandale.edu or visit www.normandale.edu/spedup-program.

Source: Normandale Community College

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Georgia runoff: Warnock prevails; candidate quality meant fewer voters turned out for Walker

Next Post

Brittney Griner freed

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Block party aims to raise awareness about affordable college option for students, families
Education

Block party aims to raise awareness about affordable college option for students, families

Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan unveil Safe Learning Plan for 2020-21 school year
Opinion

More teachers of color needed

Alexis Mann
Education

Some Mpls teachers of color decry lack of union support

Suburban school superintendent feels embraced by those she serves
Community Profiles

Suburban school superintendent feels embraced by those she serves

Next Post
Brittney Griner freed

Brittney Griner freed

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

Community remembers, looks forward three years after George Floyd’s police killing

Community remembers, looks forward three years after George Floyd’s police killing

In history-making selection, Biden picks Gen. Charles ‘CQ’ Brown, Jr. as chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff

In history-making selection, Biden picks Gen. Charles ‘CQ’ Brown, Jr. as chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff

Black-owned farmers market in full swing this spring

Black-owned farmers market in full swing this spring

Honoring Black Americans’ role in the inception of Memorial Day

Honoring Black Americans’ role in the inception of Memorial Day

Saints pitcher Woods Richardson keeps on trying

Saints pitcher Woods Richardson keeps on trying

Black Business Spotlight: West Indies Soul Food

Black Business Spotlight: West Indies Soul Food

Minneapolis
◉
72°
Fair
5:31 am8:48 pm CDT
MonTueWedThuFri
88/66°F
84/66°F
88/66°F
86/68°F
90/66°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Apr 1
April 1 @ 7:30 pm-May 29 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

May 29
10:00 am-4:00 pm Recurring

Preserving Nature Photos by Walter Griffin: REFLECTIONS

May 29
10:30 am-4:00 pm

Memorial Day Community Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...