Master Teachers From Across the Country Convene

February 15, 2011

The UTeach Institute hosted a record number of master teachers at its annual master teacher retreat January 6-7, 2011 in Austin, TX.

The UTeach Institute hosted a record number of participants from UTeach programs across the country on January 6th and 7th at its third annual master teacher retreat. More than 50 master teachers from UTeach programs across the country met on the University of Texas Austin campus to network, share information, and collaborate on strengthening UTeach courses, field experiences, and student support.

This group of expert teachers continues to grow as universities across the country implement the UTeach secondary STEM teacher preparation program. Three years into the national replication of UTeach, the number of master teachers has grown from 10 at UT Austin to more than 85 working at 21 universities across the country. Collectively, these master teachers support more than 4000 students currently enrolled in UTeach programs across the country. Kim Hughes, Manager for Knowledge Development with the UTeach Institute, works closely with the master teacher network. ““I continue to be impressed with the master teachers who have been hired by our partner universities. This growing network of talented educators across the country, all contributing their best ideas to the development of future math and science teachers, continues to strengthen the UTeach program model.”

The role of the master teacher is a unique and critical component of the UTeach program model. Master teachers, widely recognized for their educational leadership and experience, are hired by UTeach programs as non-tenured clinical faculty and are exclusively dedicated to student support and program success. UTeach programs hire approximately one master teacher for every 50 students enrolled. They co-teach the field-based UTeach courses that comprise roughly half of the UTeach curriculum and work closely with local school districts and administrators to ensure productive teaching experiences for students as they progress through the program. Master teachers are heavily involved in formal evaluation of students’ skill development throughout the program. They perform a variety of program support duties as well, including advising, recruitment of new students, management of student internship programs, and on-going and on-demand career support for UTeach graduates during their first years of teaching.

Master teachers will meet again at the UTeach Institute’s annual conference May 24-26, 2011.