Potential Educators Learn the Unique Aspects of Urban School Teaching

by J. Douglas Warren, Communications Specialist, Center for Educational Networking

Introducing Detroit Public School students to the field of education—and potential educators to Detroit Public Schools’ urban setting—is the mission of the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Education’s unique Broad Partnership program.

Created in 2003 through a $6 million donation from philanthropist and Detroit Public Schools graduate Eli Broad, the Broad Partnership program aims to supply the state’s urban centers with a greater number of highly educated teachers. Broad, a graduate of MSU and Central Michigan University, is chair of the Fortune 500 Company SunAmerica.

Program Director Sonya Gunnings-Moton describes the partnership as a way to “grow your own pipeline” of qualified teachers to support the Detroit Public School system. “The program has dramatically increased the number of Detroit Public Schools graduates going into the education field,” she said.

The partnership offers three distinct program opportunities for students, starting with the Broad Summer High School Scholars program. The scholars program delivers a three-week, on-campus, pre-college preparation and readiness experience—with a focus on an eventual career in education—for high school juniors and seniors. The summer program also includes in-depth academic skill development opportunities.

Student participants have voiced their appreciation to the program for inspiring them to enter the world of education. “I discovered leadership abilities that I never knew I had…I am excited about the impact I will have and the many lives I will change with my knowledge and passion as a future teacher,” said one high school participant.

The Broad Future Teachers Award, a second aspect of the Broad Partnership, offers Detroit Public Schools graduates majoring in education at MSU a loan-forgiveness program to cover the full cost of attendance at the college. The loan portion of the financial package is “forgiven” at the rate of 25 percent for each year of service in the Detroit Public Schools.

Many of the award recipients voiced their opinion on the importance of the program meeting the goal of creating exceptional educators. “The discrepancies between more affluent school districts and less affluent ones run much deeper than differences in resources. Quality education requires quality teachers who have a combination of academic excellence and commitment,” said one Future Teachers award winner.

Finally, the Broad Summer Teaching Fellows program gives college junior and senior education students the opportunity to teach during Detroit’s summer school program. Although the program is open to all MSU teacher candidates, it gives preference to graduates of Detroit Public Schools. “Fellows” are paid a total stipend of $3,700 for the seven-week experience. Participants are not required to teach in the Detroit Public Schools upon graduation, although many do seek employment in urban settings.

Gunnings-Moton said students gain quite a bit of experience from their orientation to the urban school setting and the Detroit community. Students receive guidance from an assigned mentor which is invaluable for making them better educators, whether they end up employed by a school within an urban setting or not. The Summer Teaching Fellows aspect of the partnership offers students an opportunity to improve their professional development backgrounds specific to the urban setting.

MSU education majors participating in the Broad Teaching Fellows program have talked about the unique learning experience. “It was an amazing experience because I got to work closely with students everyday and gain a better understanding of what teaching was about…[helping] fuel my interest and drive to work in an urban setting,” said one participant. “This has been excellent preparation for my future career as an urban educator,” said another.

Each year, the program works with approximately 100 high school students through the Broad Summer High School Scholars program. Five to ten MSU students participate through the Broad Future Teachers Award and 25-35 students through the Broad Summer Teaching Fellows program.

For more information on the Broad Partnership program, contact: Sonya Gunnings-Moton, Program Director, (517) 432-5093, gunnings@msu.edu or visit www.educ.msu.edu/broadpartnership.

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