Diversifying the Professions: Using Collaboration and Distance Education to Grow Our Own in Northeast Nebraska

Authors

Vicky Jones, Extended Education Coordinator, Projector Director, University ofNebraska-LincolI Norfolk, NE
William Lopez, ESL Coordinator, Project Principle Investigator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Donna Niemeyer, Dean of Liberal Arts, Northeast Community College, Norfolk, NE
Karen Rieger, Associate Dean, Extended Learning Services, Central Community College, Columbus, NE
Esperanza Villalobos, Paraprofessional, Madison Public School System, Madison, NE

Date of this Version

November 2003

Abstract

Faced with a dramatic shift in population demographics and a 1000% increase in the number of English Language Learner elementary school children, four colleges and universities and seven public school districts have joined forces to increase the number minority, bilingual, and ESL endorsed teachers in northeast Nebraska. This panel- workshop session will discuss the project from multiple perspectives. Public school representatives reveal their challenges in serving a largely non-English speaking student body and their difficulties recruiting minority teachers to rural Nebraska. Higher education representatives explore the barriers and opportunities of articulating course over a five year period and delivering the program to a cohort via multiple distance learning technologies. Students in the program discuss the challenges of being full time teacher aides, engaged community and family members, full-time nontraditional, first generation, minority students in an exclusive program.