COOKEVILLE – The College of Education (CoEd) at Tennessee Tech University rated high on the 2021 State Board of Education Preparation Report Card. This report reflects recent alumni and has certain categories and domains which are scored.
In the last state report Tech was listed as having recent graduates from the CoEd in 78 districts across the state, and Tech is typically at the top of that list, according to Julie Baker, Associate Dean in the college.
“This speaks volumes about the quality of our partnerships and the demand of our completers,” Baker said.
The college’s work can be seen in Tech alumna Taylor Key, the 2022 Putnam County School System High School Teacher of the Year. She teaches family and consumer science at Upperman High School and said Tech helped her lay a foundation for learning.
“My professors in my general education classes prepared me for teaching reading, writing tests and using educational technology,” Key said. “I felt prepared and confident for my teaching career after finishing my degree at Tennessee Tech.”
The Putnam County Schools topped the list of systems employing Tech grads on the last report, with 71 recent graduates. Knox County followed with 56; Cumberland County, 38; Hamilton County, 36; Wilson County, 33; and Warren County, 30. Every school district in the Upper Cumberland Region employs a large number of Tech alumni.
In the category of employment, Tech alumni exceeded expectations, according to the report. They were above the state average on all three metrics of Rate of First Year Employment, Second Year Retention Rate and Third Year Retention Rate.
In the candidate assessment category of the report, Tech graduates again exceeded expectations. They were above the state average on the metric of Pedagogical Assessment Pass Rate, and at the state average on the metric of Content Assessment Pass Rate.
The domain of provider impact was not officially scored, however Tech alumni
scored above the state average, with some are significantly above, on all six metrics in this category, according to Baker. Metrics included classroom observation scores, student growth scores and level of overall effectiveness scores.
Their domain of satisfaction was also not scored as three of the metrics in that category do not have a state comparison.
“However, the response rate of our completers on the Tennessee Educator Survey is above the state average,” Baker said.
Tech’s College of Education offers nationally accredited and recognized degrees, creating professionals who are leaders in education, administration, research, psychology, and allied health services. Their alumni can be found in school districts throughout Tennessee and across the United States.
