The College of 成人直播 and Human Development鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood 成人直播 received an 鈥楢鈥�, while its Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Elementary 成人直播 scored a 鈥楤鈥� for the 2022 NCTQ elementary mathematics rankings.

“We place a high level of importance on听preparing听our students to be great teachers. This review of our programs and the positive outcome means we are providing听high quality academic experiences in evidence-based practices听to our teacher candidates. Better teachers mean a better experience听and higher achievement听for students in K-12 schools,鈥� said Amy Lingo, interim dean of the College of 成人直播 and Human Development.

In the NCTQ report,听, examiners review more than 1,100 teacher preparation programs to determine how much time programs dedicate to mathematics as well as how that time is spent. The NCTQ analysis evaluates programs for their coverage of both the key mathematics content that elementary teachers need, as well as how to teach those concepts.

While weak K-12 math instruction is not a new challenge, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated the issue, according to the NCTQ. Many states have reported that students have lost more learning in math than in reading over the past two years, and pre-existing gaps have worsened since 2020 in math achievement between low-poverty and high-poverty schools and between majority-white and majority-Black schools. The NCTQ contends that strong preparation in teaching mathematics is critical to closing these gaps.

“We are proud to be one of the top teacher education institutions in the state, and the future for our programs is bright,” Lingo said.

The goal is to create a diverse teacher workforce within Jefferson County Public Schools that transforms educational outcomes of all students through courageous conversations, racially equitable instruction, culturally responsive teaching and meaningful reflection.听

Hosted by the College of 成人直播 and Human Development in collaboration with Class Act Federal Credit Union, a recent reception at the Speed Art Museum celebrated both recent graduates and the incoming class of residents.

鈥淚t鈥檚 our honor to celebrate this program, both for the experiences of the students as well as the impact we know it has made in the community,鈥� said CEHD Interim Dean Amy Lingo.

Nakhaya Douglas, an alumna of the program and a sixth grade math teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School provided incoming residents with advice.

鈥淵ou need to have support, self-care and a standard,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are going to be days where you want to say, 鈥業鈥檓 done.鈥� Do not give up. Find whatever it is that keeps you going and believing in your future.鈥�

UofL鈥檚 CEHD Director of Multiple Teaching Pathways, Stefanie Wooten-Burnett, says the LTR program is important for the success of all JCPS students.

鈥淲hen I graduated from UofL鈥檚 master鈥檚 in teaching program in 2004, I was the only candidate of color,鈥� Wooten-Burnett said. 鈥淲hen I think back on that, it was both depressing and daunting because we were going to work in schools with kids who looked like me, looked like my husband who is white and looked like my beautiful mixed children.鈥�

JCPS superintendent Marty Pollio urged the incoming residents and recent graduates to remember the importance of their work.

鈥淜ids lives are on the line,鈥� Pollio said. 鈥淚f I haven’t learned nothing else in my 24 years in JCPS, I have learned this: every interaction you have with a kid is a chance to change their life.鈥澨�

Now, the first-generation college student and graduate of the University of Louisville will fulfill his dream, taking a job with Jefferson County Public Schools this fall. Watts says he wants to set an example for children who have dreams of their own.听