Teacher Education Completion Program celebrates 25 years at MSU-WP

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Twenty-five years ago, Missouri State University began offering the Teacher Education Completion Program at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP), giving area residents who wanted to become elementary teachers a local pathway to achieve their dream.

A quarter century later, that program continues to be one of the largest and most successful programs offered by Missouri State University (MSU) Outreach at the West Plains campus.

“In the past 25 years, we have had over 700 graduates successfully complete the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEd) degree and more than 100 additional students with an existing bachelor’s degree obtained teacher certification after completing courses required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE),” said Deanna Smith, regional outreach administrator for MSU Outreach.

The program grew out of a need by area school districts to fill vacancies among their ranks. In fall 1999, a teacher supply and demand report by MSU showed 327 positions were left vacant during the 1998-1999 academic year, despite 6,872 new hires. An additional 604 teachers who were not fully certified filled positions that year, and another 133 positions were filled by substitutes. And 130 positions were filled by teachers not certified in the area in which they were teaching.

Officials at MSU-WP, including then Chancellor Fred Marty and Dr. Connie O’Neal, chair of the division of arts, letters and education, worked with officials in the Outreach and education departments at the Springfield campus, including Stephen Robinette, Dr. Chris Craig, Dr. Dale Range and Dr. David Brown, to develop a program that would grow the number of teachers locally.

“The program provided many ‘place-bound’ students in the MSU-WP service area the opportunity to obtain an elementary education degree locally,” said Dr. Jane Ward, who began teaching on-site classes for the program in spring 2000. “That had not been an option for them in the past.”

The need for well-trained educators continues today as retirements, the stressors of the pandemic and other changes in the education field have prompted teachers to leave the profession.

“As a local school board member the past eight years, I have seen firsthand the need for qualified teachers in the rural schools we serve in our seven-county area,” Smith said.

“In the recent years of serious teacher shortage, the opportunities for rural area residents to obtain teacher certification is as essential as it was when the program began 25 years ago,” added Ward.

Those who have completed the program say they were well prepared not only to enter the classroom but also to thrive in their chosen profession.

“As a proud member of the first graduating class of the Missouri State University Teacher Education Completion Program on the West Plains campus in 2001, I can confidently say that my time in this program laid a strong foundation for my entire career in education,” said Amanda Munson, Houston High School principal. “Reflecting on my journey over the past 24 years, I realize how instrumental the program has been in shaping my teaching philosophy and professional growth.

“From the very beginning, the curriculum was designed to equip and prepare us for the classroom setting,” she continued. “The hands-on experiences I gained through practical placements were invaluable.”

The Dora High School graduate returned to her alma mater to begin her career as a kindergarten teacher and later completed training to obtain her school counseling certification through MSU Outreach at MSU-WP. She worked as a counselor at Dora and Willow Springs before becoming an administrator in the Houston School District.

“Now, as I am in my seventh year as a school administrator, I continue to rely on the leadership and problem-solving skills I acquired during my time at MSU-WP. The program taught me the importance of collaboration and fostering a positive school culture – values that I strive to implement in my current role.”

For Amber Galiher, who teaches sixth grade geography at West Plains Middle School, the support she received through the Teacher Education Completion Program proved to be key in her journey.

“When I found this program, I literally found a support system that helped me every step of the way. The dreams I had became a reality through the support of the teachers and mentors of this program. I was able to stay right here in West Plains and achieve my goals without sacrificing my dreams,” she said.

“I have had the privilege of teaching 12 years for West Plains R-7 Schools, in third, kindergarten and sixth grade geography. The dream to inspire and reach the next generation has become a reality that started right here in my hometown,” she added.

Galiher, who was a top seven finalist for Missouri Teacher of the Year and a recipient of the West Plains Educator of the Year Award, said the greatest highlight of her career has been past students who’ve told her they want to become teachers because of her.

“This, for a teacher, is validation that, even when you thought you were not reaching those students, they saw your effort, enthusiasm and passion and decided they, too, want to make a difference just as you did for them,” she explained.

The Teacher Education Completion Program continues to offer the same quality training and support to the next generation of educators.

“It has allowed me to attend school and get my degree without traveling somewhere else. That’s something I wouldn’t have been able to do without this program,” said Steven Steele, Pottersville. “It has allowed me to continue to work and my wife to stay home with our two children.”

“This program has been such a blessing to me and has helped me a lot along the way,” added Emily Wallace, Eminence. “The staff, along with my classmates, have helped me grow as a person and as an educator. My experience here has been great. If I ever had a problem or needed any help, there were always people there to help me and to improve my education and knowledge for the best.”

Smith said the supportive and flexible environment offered by the program sets students up for success. “Students have access to an education advisor and other faculty and staff on site, and the classes are taught by veteran teachers from area schools primarily in the evenings so students can work as paraprofessionals or substitute teachers while earning their degree,” she explained. “We do offer some classes online or via Zoom technology at times.

“We also have a very high job placement rate,” Smith added. “Many students are placed in schools as a teacher of record under a provisional certification before they graduate.

“MSU Outreach exists to provide educational opportunities to the students of West Plains and the surrounding area which they might otherwise not be able to obtain,” said Tim Tucker, director of web-conferencing and off-campus programs for MSU Outreach. “In a time when so many programs are going online, we are thrilled that we continue to maintain a physical presence in the area, giving students the ability to complete a four-year degree close to home.

“As a retired teacher myself, I know part of being a teacher is building relationships,” Tucker added. “Working in partnership with MSU-WP, we can provide not just a place to complete a degree, but also a place where students have a sense of belonging and personalized connection to both the Missouri State University system and their local school districts through our cohort model. We look forward to another 25 years of supporting the region by providing highly qualified educators to West Plains and the surrounding communities.”

All alumni of the Teacher Education Completion Program are invited to attend a 25th anniversary celebration from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at Gohn Hall on the MSU-WP campus. Refreshments will be served, Smith said.

For more information about the Teacher Education Completion Program for the BSEd and other education degrees offered by MSU Outreach, visit Outreach.MissouriState.edu/OffCampus/WestPlains or contact Smith at 417-255-7931 or DeannaSmith@MissouriState.edu.