In 2004, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges selected 6 community colleges to serve as leadership hubs for a variety of workforce programs.[1]  Because of our previous leadership role with Project TEACH, Green River was chosen as the center for teacher education.  Our center provides:

• innovative programs for future educators; 
• support, mentoring, and advising to community colleges and their K-20 partners for the creation and expansion of career-ladder programs in education; and
• in-service training for current education professionals. 

Since 2004, the Center’s role has continued to expand and it now provides workshops and activities at all levels of the educational continuum.  

This is the first of a series of Communigator articles that will highlight some of these activities including:

• Project TEACH – programs and activities for future teachers at Green River
• Future Teachers Conference – an annual conference for future teachers from high schools and colleges around the state. This year will be the 9th FTC!
• Para Pipeline Project – a program to help certify current public school para- educators to teach mathematics
• Tutors-2-Teachers – a pilot program that targets current GRCC  students in math and science to work as tutors in grades 6-12 in hopes that they might consider teaching as a career
• Coordination with Project TIME – a program that is working with several of GRCC’s local school districts to address critical math college readiness issues
• CWU @ GRCC -  program for future elementary teachers offered on the GRCC campus with plans for a new program at the Kent campus that will allow current teachers to become certified to teach secondary math
• Leadership Training for Workforce Deans - yearlong training for future or new workforce deans
• East & West Boot Camps – one-week, hands-on courses for professional-technical faculty who have limited or no teaching experience
• Collaborative Learning Workshops – designed for college faculty from around the state with a focus on using group work in a wide range of classroom settings
• Lighting a Fire – Effective Arts – innovative faculty development programs for educators who want to take their teaching to “the next level”!
• Best Practices Conferences – yearly conferences that allow teacher educators from around the state to share their successes and challenges
• Summer TEACH – a summer program for 3rd graders designed to help increase their math background in preparation for 4th grade
• Collaboration with the GRCC Teaching and Learning Center and Instructional Technology to deliver workshops for GRCC teachers and staff
• College Awareness Field Trips - regular campus visits by local elementary school children