State & National Recognition
The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation
- The 1998 Education Week's "Education Report Card" gave Oklahoma an A- (the highest grade given any state) for its quality of teacher preparation.
- In 1999, Oklahoma also received an "A" from Education Week in the catagory of teacher preparation.
- The Quality Counts 2000 Report ranked Oklahoma number three in the nation in improving teacher quality. The publication singled out "teacher education and extensive support for new and veteran teachers" as particularly impressive elements of Oklahoma's teacher preparation system.
- "Goals 2000" awarded Oklahoma the national award for Goal Four: having the largest percentage of teachers teaching in field. Currently, 99% of Oklahoma's teachers are certified in the areas in which they teach.
- Oklahoma serves as an original partner state for the National Commission for Teaching and America's Future.
- Oklahoma has continued to rank in the Top 8 states in the nation in the quality of teacher preparation.
The Eyes of the Nation are on Oklahoma
Assessment
"The new test materials I recently reviewed showed a definite improvement over the test I took ten years ago to get certified in Physics. The current test items reflect an appropriate level of academic rigor, rather than an esoteric game of Trivial Pursuit. In addition, the overall test framework provides a more realistic coverage of the material needed to be a successful secondary Physics teacher."
Granger Meador, Physics Teacher
Bartlesville High School
Finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year
"The items I reviewed for the World History/Geography subject area test are a refreshing departure from the lower levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. It was wonderful to see one of my content areas have so many items which required a thorough understanding of the material, but yet were reasonable for entry-level educators."
Mary Opergard, History Professor
Oklahoma Baptist University
"The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation is working toward providing Oklahoma's entry level teachers assessment experiences that will demonstrate the high level of professional and content area preparation they are receiving in Commission-accredited teacher preparation programs. The assessments will provide opportunities for prospective teachers to show off their knowledge in traditional ways and to show off their professional ability by requiring expanded responses to reality-based problems."
James C. Impara, Professional Associate and Editor
The Buros Center for Testing
Program Accreditation
"Oklahoma's [NCATE/State Partnership] renewal was exemplary. Their collaborative efforts with NCATE's professional associates resulted in an innovative model."
Ray Nystrand, Member
NCATE State Partnership Board
"Whereever I go, I speak of the Oklahoma model as one that other states should be following."
Dr. Jack Cassidy, Folio Evaluator
Texas A&M, International Reading Association
"...CEC is pleased to approve the state partnership proposal submitted by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. We note that this is the first partnership agreement that we have ever approved. Further, we commend the Commission for both the substance of the proposal and the manner in which they have worked with us."
Margie Crutchfield
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Professional Development Institutes
"One of the most timely and effective professional development opportunities afforded our schools in recent years."
Dan Brock, Executive Director of Educational Services
Bartlesville School District
"Wow, what an exciting time to be part of education. Oklahoma can be the #1 leader in education if we continue to promote new ideas to help new teachers and veterans. GO OKLAHOMA!"
Melanne Greenwood, Classroom Teacher
Jefferson Elementary School, Shawnee
Education Leadership Oklahoma
"Oklahoma should be applauded for its efforts to strengthen its teaching force, and, by doing so, improve student learning. Teachers who seek ational Board Certification exemplify the characteristics we need in the classroom. They are risk-takers who challenge themselves to meet higher standards and achieve better results. They lead by example, showing both students and peers that learning is a lifelong pursuit."
James A. Kelly, President
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
"I'm eager for Oklahoma teachers to show their abilities through the National [Board] Certification process. We have an opportunity to let the world know we're doing a good job and here's the proof. We compare favorably with the rest of the country."
Henry Bridgeman, Classroom Teacher
Northwest Heights Elementary School, Durant1998 Class
The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation
Oklahoma Ranked Number One in Quality of Teaching! "Careful attention to improving the quality of its teaching force has vaulted Oklahoma ahead of all other states on our measures of teaching quality."
"Quality Counts." Education Weekly
January 8, 1998
"States have been talking about improving teacher preparation for a decade or more. The results are mixed. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation work might well be different. Oklahoma may be poised to point the way for states to move beyond a paper trail of complex regulations to a true performance system."
Mark D. Musick, President
Southern Region Education Board
"A basic academic right of students is to have a teacher in every classroom who knows the subject matter well and understands how to deliver subject matter so that students are engaged in an aggressive pursuit of becoming educated. The single most important function of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation is to ensure that all Oklahoma teachers are prepared to deliver excellent education as described above to all students. I lend my full support to the Commission as it addresses this important function."
Floyd Coppedge, Former Secretary Of Education
Oklahoma Christian University
