2007 Outreach Scholarship Community Partnership Award Honors Work to Mentor New Teachers
- Randi Nevins Stanulis
- Department of Teacher Education
- MSU College of Education
- Dr. E. Sharon Banks
- Superintendent of Schools, Lansing School District
- 2000-2007
R. N. Stanulis and Dr. E. S. Banks
Most college students studying to be teachers think the hard part is over when they graduate and land their first teaching assignment.
Then they discover the "sink-or-swim" mentality that affects all aspects of their initial years as an education professional. In many cases it results in significant losses of high-quality teachers for urban school districts. A researcher at MSU's College of Education working to mentor and retain new teachers is the co-recipient of this year's Outreach Scholarship Community Partnership Award.
"When Randi Stanulis believes in you, you can't help but rise to her expectations. Her encouraging spirit, generosity in sharing her wisdom, expertise and resources, and her resolve to improve the culture of American education have impacted countless others like me. She is my ideal as an educator, colleague, and friend."
Dawn Van Zee
Teacher and ASSIST Mentor Teacher, Lansing School District
Dr. Randi Nevins Stanulis of MSU's Department of Teacher Education is the award co-recipient
for her work partnering with the Lansing School District to produce ASSIST Beginning Teachers (Advocating Strong Standards-based Induction Support for Teachers), a comprehensive Web-based resource to create a cutting edge model that provides strong induction support for beginning teachers in Michigan, as well as support for veteran teachers and administrators.
"Nearly half of urban teachers leave the profession within the first three to five years of teaching. Teacher turnover impacts schools and ultimately student performance. Research indicates that where effective induction assistance is provided, there is a 92 percent retention rate for beginning teachers. Our work focuses on developing and implementing methods and tools that foster growth and development for beginning teachers," said Stanulis.
The Lansing School District is the community partner named as co-recipient of the award with Stanulis.
"Dr. Stanulis continues to provide creativity, vision, and leadership as a significant catalyst in our efforts to increase student achievement by supporting and retaining the best and the brightest new generation of classroom teachers," said Sharon Banks, former superintendent of Lansing schools. "The Lansing School District is honored to share this award."
The Outreach Scholarship Community Partnership Award is conferred annually and provides University-wide recognition of highly engaged community-based research collaborations that positively impact both the community and the scholarship of MSU faculty work.
- Written by Cathy Gibson, University Outreach and Engagement
