Deb Brovick has 34 students this semester. A year ago, she had 15. The Foundations of Teacher Education program at Blackhawk Technical College has more than doubled in size in one year, and the future teachers are needed.
“There are teacher shortages all over the United States,” Brovick explained. “We need more teachers than ever before. It's important to encourage new students and paraprofessionals to join this program so that we can keep producing teachers who care about our students and schools.”
The Foundations of Teacher Education program is a 60-credit program that prepares students to pursue a career as an instructional assistant or paraprofessional–roles that are vital in the day-to-day activities of a classroom. Students who complete this associate degree program can then transfer, if desired, to a four-year college to complete a full bachelor’s degree in education.
Brovick, who has a master’s degree in education from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has worked to create transfer agreements with area four-year colleges. Blackhawk currently has agreements in place with University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County and Viterbo University, and students can earn a license to teach kindergarten through ninth grade at both.
One student in the Foundations of Teacher Education program, Miranda Ends, said she plans to attend UW-Whitewater to complete her bachelor’s degree.
“My overall experience at Blackhawk has been phenomenal. From our first day of in-person orientation to now, every single person I have talked or interacted with has gone above and beyond. I feel supported in my role as a student and a future educator—they truly want me to succeed,” Ends shared. “If anyone were considering this program, I would tell them to jump in with both feet and hit the ground running. Everybody at Blackhawk wants you to succeed. We need more educators, and we need more people who are passionate about teaching students.”
Carly Carratt, a second-year student who lives in Beloit, said, “After I graduate from Blackhawk, I plan on transferring to a four-year university where I will continue to work on obtaining my bachelor's degree. As of right now, I hope to someday teach either pre-K/kindergarten or first grade. My favorite part of the program is the practicum experience. I am currently a practicum student working with preschoolers. I love being able to apply the teaching methods and strategies I have already learned to a real-life classroom. It's amazing to see how effective some of the teaching strategies are in real time.”
Brovick, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been teaching at Blackhawk for 15 years. Her experience working in childcare centers as a teacher and director, teaching middle school, and teaching high school led her to share her experiences with students at Blackhawk. She started as an adjunct instructor for Blackhawk’s Early Childhood Education program, and is now a full-time instructor overseeing the College’s Foundations of Teacher Education program and the Behavior Technician program. The Foundations of Teacher Education program has been running for about 10 years, producing dozens of graduates.
Ends, who lives near Brodhead, said, “I have never wanted anything more than to be a teacher, next to being a mother. I love watching students learn a new skill, master it, and see them beam with pride. This program has allowed me to fulfill my dreams. I never thought a career change was possible for me at 35, but this program allows exactly that.”
Brovick said there is no maximum number of students who can enroll in the growing Foundations of Teacher Education program, so anyone interested can sign up right now.