Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Representatives from the Aldine Independent School District (Aldine ISD), in Houston, Texas, come to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville three or four times a year to interview and select UWP education students for student teaching and teaching positions in their school district.

In October 2004, Wally Iselin, director of Clinical Experiences at UWP, was contacted through e-mail suggesting the possibility of creating a partnership between Aldine ISD and UW-Platteville. Two months later it was established and Jeff McCanna, director of human resources at Aldine, returned to UWP to visit with interested students. From that group, UWP had three students engage in the student teaching experience during the spring semester. Why come all the way to UW-Platteville to get teachers? McCanna explained that their representatives look for quality, not quantity. They truly search for the right fit, because, he said, "Our kids really need good, strong teachers. ... We come to UWP because the quality of the student teachers and teachers is phenomenal. This university does an awesome job at preparing students to go out and work with any kid, anywhere."

The Aldine Independent School District encompasses 111 square miles of land in both urban and rural areas. There are over 70 campuses, including Head Start centers, early childhood/pre-kindergarten centers, elementary schools, intermediate schools, middle schools, ninth grade high schools and senior high schools. The student population is ethnically and economically diverse and includes 60,000 students. "Although 80 percent of our students are classified as economically disadvantaged, the facilities are phenomenal and well taken care of, teachers have plenty of resources, first year teachers automatically get mentors and they may have another their second year upon request," said McCanna. Sarah Young, a 2005 UWP alumna who works at Aldine, agreed with McCanna's statement. As Young neared her graduation, she accepted a position in one of the Aldine Head Start centers. "I have everything I need to teach," she said, and added that having a mentor made a big difference. "I am a priority. She'll drop anything to come help make sure I succeed and do things correctly."

Young said that leaving friends and family in Wisconsin was hard to do, but the supportive environment at Aldine ISD really helped. "They'll help with anything - finding doctors, dentists, whatever." In addition to the mentor program, Aldine offers competitive teacher salaries: in 2004, first-year teachers had a base salary of $37,000, and with critical need stipends, a salary up to $40,500. Among other benefits, partial tuition reimbursement, health insurance, and a retirement savings matching plan are also available. Although the monetary benefits are impressive, McCanna points to the academic and other achievements as further evidence of the rewarding experience at Aldine. Aldine ISD ranks among the state's high performing school districts, according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and was named one of five national finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education in 2004. It has also been recognized for its strong music and visual arts programs, along with its physical education and wellness program, which offers individual sports, such as inline skating, biking and kayaking. Young concluded with, "I love my job. I love Texas. The weather is fabulous. I recommend it ... It's worth it." Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a student teacher or teacher at Aldine Independent School District may call Iselin at (608) 342-1271, e-mail him at iselin@uwplatt.edu or visit the office of Clinical Experiences at 125 Doudna Hall.

Contact: Wally Iselin, director of Clinical Experiences, (608) 342-1271,iselin@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Kate McKinney, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,mckinnka@uwplatt.edu