As school districts across Kansas work to redesign their education models, including all three Lyon County districts, Emporia State University is preparing future teachers for what’s to come in the classroom.
ESU Assistant Professor for Elementary Education, Early Childhood and Special Education Dr. Sara Schwerdtfeger says the university is working with district partners as resources for on-campus discussions on how to reframe teacher education. She says ESU is stressing flexibility with students possibly facing a range of new and traditional education models, depending on the district, as they graduate and begin teaching.
In Emporia, Logan Avenue and William Allen White schools were approved for redesign work last fall. Those efforts continue, with some aspects possibly ready by this upcoming fall. Students will definitely notice changes, and USD 253 Superintendent Kevin Case says teachers and staff are “fully vested” in the process.
Meanwhile, redesign efforts also continue at USD 251 North Lyon County and USD 252 Southern Lyon County.
The Kansas State Department of Education approved 14 schools for the initial redesign round, named after the Mercury astronauts, in 2017. Gemini I, the second round, has completed. Gemini II redesign work is currently underway and applications for the Apollo phase closed last week. For more information, go online to www.ksde.org and search for “Kansans Can.”
