School leaders explore education priorities, workforce pathways at IU Kokomokomo

KOKOMO, Ind. - Indiana University Kokomo's Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP) provides an opportunity for 38 partner districts in IU Kokomo's 14-county service region to collaborate with each other, and with the IUK Division of Education.

The campus recently hosted superintendents, principals, and other school leaders for the CEP's fall meeting, which featured guest speakers Paul Ketcham, Indiana assistant secretary of education, and Jason Graves, senior director of work-based learning and apprenticeships for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Angela Opsahl, dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Professions, provided updates on direct admission opportunities into three campus nursing programs, while Jenny French, paraprofessional program coordinator, discussed the Pathways for Paraprofessionals program, which allows people already working in schools to continue their employment while earning their teaching credentials.

Ketcham gave an update from the Indiana Department of Education, highlighting efforts to improve early literacy, strengthen English and math instruction, and rethink high school. He said Indiana's IREAD scores have increased annually for five consecutive years.

"We have an obligation to every Hoosier student to ensure every kid can read," he said. "We're all in on early literacy."

The state's goal is for 95 percent of Indiana's third graders to achieve reading proficiency by 2027, as demonstrated by IREAD, the state-required reading assessment. Students take the test in second and third grade, and those who do not pass by the end of third grade are retained. So far, nearly 89 percent have achieved the target.

"Five hundred eleven schools across the great state of Indiana hit a goal of a 95 percent pass rate in IREAD," Ketcham said, or 40 percent of the state's elementary schools.

"Indiana is a shining light in the United States of America," he said. "We give credit to the elementary teachers and principals who are doing all the right things to make sure their students can read."

He also discussed the need to improve how elementary teachers are prepared to teach math, so students have the foundational skills to learn higher-level skills, and statewide changes to high school diplomas that allow students to earn seals including Enrollment or Enrollment Honors Plus for those planning to attend college; Employment and Employment Honors designed for career- and technical education-focused students; and Enlistment and Service or Enlistment Honors for students entering the military or public service.

"The diploma now has currency," he said. "The Indiana diploma will now allow them to access our current economy the Monday after they graduate."

Graves, of Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said nearly 600 Indiana residents are in education-related apprenticeships statewide, preparing to become teachers, principals, or school counselors. IU Kokomo currently has 24 teacher apprentices through partnerships with Community Schools of Frankfort, Logansport Community School Corp., Pioneer Regional School Corp., Marion Community Schools, Hamilton Heights School Corp., and Alexandria Community Schools.

Many of those in teaching programs are already school employees, such as coaches, paraprofessionals and substitute teachers, who have been identified as good candidates for the classroom.

"We're always trying to think outside the box where we can find people to work in education," Graves said. "Apprenticeships are great for any employer struggling to find people. This isn't a fast fix, and it won't work for everyone, but it's a tool in the box."

IU registered apprenticeships are approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and offer school district employees structured, paid pathways into teaching, school leadership, and school counseling roles. Key components include paid on-the-job learning, assigned mentors, and IU coursework. Each apprenticeship leads to a degree or certificate, preparing graduates to enter education careers with real-world experience.

Leah Nellis, IU assistant vice president for school partnerships, said the goal is to help districts develop their own teaching workforce.

"It helps to grow their local talent," she said. "A lot of the teacher apprentices at Kokomo and other campuses are individuals who have been paraprofessionals, sometimes for eight to 12 years. School leaders know they are good with kids, they're going to stay in their communities, and they're already a valuable part of the school. It's a way to help them advance."

The CEP provides an essential opportunity for district superintendents, principals, and teachers to provide input and feedback to IU Kokomo faculty regarding teacher preparation practices and priorities, as well as employment needs. As a result, programs are designed to better meet the needs of local schools and communities. The CEP also provides an opportunity for innovative and collaborative partnerships.

The CEP districts and schools serve as the exclusive providers of educational settings and cooperating P-12 teachers for IU Kokomo students' field-based experiential learning, which begins in the first semester of their freshman year and culminates in their capstone student teaching experience.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.

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