Filling the need St. Thomas’ willingness to think outside the box was attractive to Special Education Coordinator Andrea Engstrom, who has worked for 16 years at Dakota Ridge School in Apple Valley. Finding qualified teachers to fill special education positions is a constant challenge, she said. “We have reached out to other institutions over the years asking, how can we think differently about student teaching?” Engstrom said. “We just hit barrier after barrier. I’m so grateful for the connections to just be creative, be intuitive, and to make something that's really going to be lasting.” Because participants already are working at the school, they’re going into Work and Learn with “eyes wide open,” she said, and the program doesn’t leave a hole in her teaching force because they’re able to learn on the job. As part of the Work and Learn program, Engstrom works alongside School of Education faculty as an adjunct professor, making sure to weave district practices into the curriculum. When classes had to be moved online for the Work and Learn cohort, the transition was “seamless,” she said. It’s true, the pandemic didn’t slow things down; in fact, during the 2020-21 academic year, more than 100 new educators were taking part in the program. A leader in online education before COVID-19, the Department of Special Education was prepared to be flexible when needed. “It felt like St. Thomas was a step ahead of the pandemic,” Engstrom said. Brusnahan added that, because they have the capacity to do the program completely online, there’s the potential for the program to grow beyond Minnesota. “For St. Thomas, it really comes down to our mission,” Brusnahan said. “It’s about making sure we’re advancing the common good. We prepare teachers who have values, who understand every life is important and believe every child can contribute. We are creating educators who are morally responsible leaders who are going into a field where they have to act critically and think wisely.” n
to address critical teacher shortage areas, they came to us because they saw us as a community partner, as being engaged, as being present.” With six additional Work and Learn cohorts scheduled to launch this fall, the district-serving model will encompass the seven-county metro area and continue to create a pipeline of licensed teachers to fill critical shortage areas in special education. “I believe it is essential that teacher preparation programs support the needs of districts and schools in our community,” said Dr. Kathlene Campbell, dean of the School of Education. “By working together, we can ensure the teachers we train utilize the same tools and strategies that are implemented in the districts.” Seizing opportunity TheWork and Learn programalso offers cost savings on ABS license coursework, allows participants to do on-the-job classroom training, helps participants apply for grants and provides a cohort model for support. Kyle Ellmann has been working with children with special needs in various roles for the last decade, but this is his first year as a teacher. When he was a paraprofessional at Moreland Elementary in West St. Paul, multiple people recommended the Work and Learn program to him. He thought it was a great opportunity, so he applied and was accepted. This spring, he graduated with a master’s degree in special education, along with an ABS license. “The only way I ever considered going to graduate school was with an opportunity like this one – where I wouldn’t have to sit in a classroom all day and then graduate without any experience,” he said. “I wanted that experience. “It’s providing me with the knowledge base to refine what I need to know to become an effective teacher,” Ellmann continued. “It’s also helped me put into practice a lot of the fundamentals that we've been working on.” He said his cohort, alongwith Brusnahan and Stahl, has been there for himalong the way to offer support. “It’s been a great relationship,” he said. “I feel that even after I’m out of the program, I’ll still be able to go to my professors for help and advice.”
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