NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/03/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University has received a Teacher Preparation Accountability System Reward of $7,500 from the Louisiana Board of Regents.

NSU was recognized for its continuing efforts to produce quality teachers. The University received a grade of "A" in the first phase of Louisiana's Teacher Preparation Accountability System. Teacher preparation program completers obtained a passage rate of 94 percent on the PRAXIS examination.

"This reward is a tribute to our fine teacher education faculty and the leadership of Dean John Tollett," said Northwestern president Dr. Randall J. Webb. "The acknowledgement shows that academic administrators and faculty throughout the University are dedicating themselves to preparing excellent teachers in addition to their roles of preparing student majors to pursue other careers or opportunities."

Northwestern will use the funding to support professional development of faculty responsible for preparing teachers.

"Professional development for faculty is expensive but vital," said Tollett. "Faculty must attend conferences to learn about new standards for accreditation established by NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers of Education) as well as standards involving student dispositions and the accountablity standards in Louisiana."

Tollett said the award is indicative of the quality of Northwestern's teacher education program and its efforts to help schools meet new accountability standards.

"We believe Northwestern teachers are responsible for the report cards their schools earn as well as our own," he said.

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