MIDTESOL Matters Summer 2001

Postcard from…Missouri 

By Susan Schindler, Interim Missouri Representative 

At Southeast Missouri State University, Dr. Adelaide Parsons has received another federal grant. This Title VII Education Grant, Training All Content Teachers in Interactive Classroom Success (TACTICS), extends professional training to all school districts in the state of Missouri through the use of Master Teachers. The three components of TACTICS are:

• Master Teachers: Master Teachers provide leadership and work with the Local Education Associations (LEAs) to promote the TESOL K-12 standards in districts with English Language Learners (ELL). Master teachers are trained by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL).
• Higher Education Teachers: The Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) faculty who teach methods have agreed to be trained as Master Teachers and incorporate the training into their own courses.
• School District Teachers (LEA): Selected teachers in the LEAs apply the TESOL K-12 Standards to the curriculum, developing teaching strategies, assessment tools, and materials taught by Master Teachers for ELL students in their settings.

While learning to apply these standards, teachers may seek Missouri ESOL endorsement through classes held in conjunction with local workshops and summer institutes.

In addition, Harris-Stowe State College will be offering a new program for receiving a state endorsement in Teaching English as a Second Language. This program speaks to the needs of the St. Louis area's growing population of non-native speakers. It is designed to enable working teachers to gain training and a state endorsement in ESOL by offering classes at times convenient to working teachers. Classes are scheduled to begin during the summer semester of 2001.

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