Williams presents teaching program to MACC trustees

Janet Morales

Robert Williams

Robert Williams, coordinator of teacher education, gave an overview of the teacher education program at the February meeting of the Moberly Area Community College Board of Trustees Monday.

MACC offers an Associated Arts in Teaching degree, recognized at state colleges and universities. Williams said the program at MACC is unique in that educational coursework is sequenced, rather than letting students take classes as they will. Williams said a foundation of education class is required before a teaching professions class which allows to observe actual classrooms.

Williams said that while student might come into the teaching program with an idea of the field and level they want to go into, they are required to perform eight hours of observation at the elementary level, eight hours at the middle school and eight hours in a high school setting. Students then choose the age group to which they feel most fitted and do an additional eight hours of observation, including four hours of special education at the level of their choice.

“The classroom observations help them decide,” said Williams. I knew of two Greyhound players who did their observation in an elementary PE classroom. One came back and said, ‘That was great. That is what I want to do.’ The other one said, ‘I want to change my major.’ They were in the same classroom but experienced it differently.”

Williams said the program consists of many traditional-age students. Some are A+ students whose tutoring helped them to decide to go into teaching. But there are also a number of non-tradition students, he said, citing a lady who, at the age of 60, went back to school and got her A.A. in teaching and is now working as a teacher’s aide.

Williams said the program is growing. The foundations courses offered Spring 2009 were comprised of 139 students. This year enrollment is at 169.

In other action, the board voted to approve the Missouri Health Professions Consortium Occupational Therapy Assistant Student handbook; it approved the clinical contract with Healthsouth, representing Rusk Rehabilitation Center, to provide clinical experiences for students in the AND program; and it approved the occupational Therapy Assistant Clinical Affiliation agreement with Moberly Regional Medical Center to allow students direct patient care experiences.

The trustees granted formal approval to purchase copy paper from Premier paper and Packaging, Columbia, in the amount of $26,500.

The board approved the employment of the following personnel: Cheryl Shoemyer, secretary/receptionist in the president’s office; and Betty Blakey, part-time administrative support specialist. New adjunct faculty include: David Garth, mathematics, Kirksville; Julie Kammerich, developmental mathematics, Columbia; Betsy Murphy, mathematics and economics, Columbia; Julie Nance, sociology, Mexico; Bradley Reed, Introduction to Information Technology online course; Brian Tate, music, Columbia; James Wayne, developmental math, Mexico; and Randy Wyatt, computer and business classes, Columbia.

The Northeast Missouri Tech Prep Consortium announced Nancy Jackson, Macon R-I High School, is the Tech Prep Student of the year. Nancy attends Macon Area Career and Technical Education Center where she studies agriculture.

The first runner-up is Kelley Fry of Montgomery County R-II High School and Davis H. Hart Career Center. Second runner-up is Zachary Gettman of Harrisburg R-VIII High School and Moberly Area Technical Center. The third runner-up is Sara Ellis of Kirksville R-III High School and Kirksville Area Technical Center.

These individuals were recognized at a luncheon at MACC February 17 and also will be recognized at a ceremony at the state capitol in Jefferson City March 5.

On March 5, the MACC Singers will have a master class on vocal technique. Jazz Rucker, a senior vocalist from the University of Missouri School of Music and Moberly High School graduate, will be the clinician for the men.

The 16^th annual MACC Career Expo will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 7 in the MACC Activity Center. The event is designed for MACC students, alumni. High school juniors and seniors and job seekers from northeast Missouri. They can meet with representatives from business and industry and four-year colleges and universities regarding employment after graduation or continuing education opportunities.

The choir will perform April 10 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Moberly for the district women’s meeting.

The MACC Drama Department will present “Charlotte’s Web” at 7 p.m., Friday, April 16, and at 2 p.m. on April 17 and 18.

The MACC Athletic Banquet will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 17. Highlights of the Greyhounds and Lady Greyhounds basketball season and individual awards will be presented.

The MACC Singers will present their spring concert, “It Takes a Village” at 7 p.m., Friday, May 7, at the MACC Auditorium. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides music education for underfunded school and community music programs.

The terms of Dr. Robert Tompson and Don Schaffer are expiring and they have chosen not to seek another term. Only two candidates filed for these positions so no election shall be held. An organizational meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., April 19, at which John Cochran and Jim Cooksey will be sworn in as the new board trustees to serve six-year terms each.