Teacher Education Follow-Up Study, 1998.

Overview & Synopsis

This report presents the eighth Follow-Up Study by the Teacher Education Assessment Committee (TEAC) at Central Missouri State University (Central). TEAC is a centralized system of data collection and assessment that conducts and publishes results of periodic assessments and evaluations of Central's teacher education programs. Data came from Central's preservice teachers, education faculty, teacher education graduates, employers of Central-educated teachers, and graduates who completed MSE and EdS degrees in education. Results revealed that 58 percent of Central's previous year's graduating class secured full-time teaching positions within Missouri. Central teacher education graduates, first-year and second-year only, were employed in 181 of Missouri's 525 districts. Most student teachers were white, female, full-time students. They rated non-Western philosophies and cultures as their weakest academic area. The average salary for Central graduates was $23,177. Most of the first and second year teachers planned on teaching 5 or more years from now. Teachers' top area of dissatisfaction in their current positions were level of support from parents and community, salary/fringe benefits, and opportunities for professional advancement. Teachers had limited professional production in the area of scholarship/research and reported limited classroom use of technology. Most employers felt that Central-trained teachers were strongly prepared for their current positions. The TEAC surveys are appended. (SM)