College of Education Hosts Innovation in Education Summit

College of Education Hosts Innovation in Education Summit

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Kutztown University's College of Education has embarked on a new vision for education's role in higher education. Through initiatives such as micro-internships, regional partnerships, professional development and dual enrollment programs, Kutztown University spotlighted its advance in education at Wednesday's Innovation in Education Summit at the McFarland Student Union.

The college, led by Dr. Rebecca West Burns, dean, hosted representatives from regional school districts, as well as educational services and community organizations from Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Dauphin Counties Wednesday. The event focused on building innovative partnerships and was co-sponsored by the College of Education, Career Development Center and KU's Title III Grant.

"Hands-on, experiential learning through internships and clinical experiences is the most important and powerful part of preparing educators," West Burns said. "Micro-internships afford students the opportunity to gain early access to different careers and opportunities in the education field while simultaneously getting paid for such opportunities. As a relatively new concept, and certainly new in education, we are proud to work in partnership with our schools to advance teaching in Pennsylvania by leading innovation and change."

One of the local districts that attended was Governor Mifflin School District, who sees the value of expanding opportunities for students.

"Our district is honored to participate in this summit and for the opportunity to share our collaborative work with Kutztown University on the micro-internship program with our broader educational community," said Dr. Lisa Hess, superintendent, Governor Mifflin School District. "Experiences such as these allow us to expand the possibilities of education outside of their typical bounds and provide students at all levels with the unique opportunities to explore their individual passions and pathways."

"What's great about this is that it's a win-win-win situation. Kutztown University students can find out early on if education, or another area in a school system, is something that would interest them," said Kristi Bonnano, internship coordinator, Governor Mifflin School District. "Our school district benefits because not only do we have an extra set of hands to help across the board, but we also get to show the mission of our district and what it's all about. The teachers benefit from some extra help and the kids benefit by working with college mentors. Everybody wins with this micro-internship opportunity."

The College of Education at Kutztown University is dedicated to having a positive impact on the lives of children and youth in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the preparation of highly qualified professional educators. KU's goal is to provide preparation programs that blend a strong knowledge base in the content area, along with the understanding of human development and grounding in pedagogy with frequent and continuous field experiences. The professional educators prepared in KU's programs are willing and able to effect change in an increasingly diverse and technologically integrated educational environment. Graduates are committed to professional development throughout their careers, thus supporting the College of Education model of lifelong learning.

Learn more online or by calling 610-683-4300.