Albertson Foundation Rewards Innovations In Public Education

Millions of dollars in private donations during the next three years will change the way Idaho teaches its teachers.

Boise’s J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation will offer up to $900,000 in seed money to each of Idaho’s nine colleges and universities if they are willing to take risks to improve teacher training.

Teacher education will change only when college educators and public schools develop a close bond, foundation Executive Director Sharron Jarvis said.

“We need far more interaction between the world and the ivy-covered walls,” Jarvis said.

The money is making southwest Idaho colleges rethink the way they prepare the 2,138 students pursuing education as a career.

Ideas being considered include extending student teaching at Boise State University from a semester to a year, screening out students at Boise State whose personalities are not a good match for the classroom and establishing a fifth year “master’s of teaching” program at Albertson College of Idaho in Caldwell.

The ideas could put Idaho at the front of education reform, said David Imig, chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in Washington, D.C.

“Most teachers have a full semester of student teaching,” he said. “We’re headed toward a year. It is the most important innovation.”

, DataTimes