Kalamazoo Valley Expands Offerings for Future Educators

Several new education course offerings have been added for the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 semesters, giving students more options, especially if they plan to transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor's degree.

For fall, the new courses include EDU 112, Teaching Lab Seminar III; and EDU 217: Inclusive Practices in Elementary Education. For the winter semester, the college will also offer EDU 207, Physical Science for Elementary Ed; EDU 230, Early Childhood Teaching and Learning and Math 153: Early Mathematical Reasoning.

Department chair Cheryl Almeda said a new associate degree in Early/Elementary Education will be offered during the Winter 2024 semester. Most of the related courses are already available, but EDU 230, Math 153 and 155 and science courses EDU 207 and 209 will first be offered in 2024. Classes are offered in many modalities - online, hybrid and face-to-face.

"This is the first time we've had a department specifically focused on supporting the development of Pre K-grade 12 teachers," Almeda said. "We're responding to the community's needs. There's such a huge need for parapros and teachers. This is a degree program that's going to meet our community's requests to develop local talent into our next generation of teachers!"

She said the new associate degree in early education includes two tracks. Students can prepare to transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor's degree in "Birth - 3rd" and "Pre K - 5th" grade bands and become a teacher, or they can move directly into the workforce with the credentials earned at Kalamazoo Valley to become an elementary school paraprofessional or other educational assistant.

Portage Central High School graduate Livia Lewis is an education major who was dual enrolled, taking classes at Kalamazoo Valley while completing her high school classes in 2020. At first she had planned to pursue a degree in social work, but a First Year Experience course at Kalamazoo Valley helped her pinpoint her interests and strengths. She transferred to Western Michigan University this semester.

"I actually spent time researching a career and the steps to get there," Lewis said. "I kind of wanted to be a teacher when I was a little girl." At Kalamazoo Valley, her First Year Experience Instructor Ivona Swan assured her that she'd be an excellent educator and Lewis redirected her career goals to teaching.

Swan's course helped lay the groundwork for Lewis' successful college career and future as a teacher. "She helped me become a better student. I wasn't the greatest in high school," Lewis said. "I learned how to use a planner and how to organize myself. I learned strategies and how to apply myself. Now I'm excited about being in a field that I enjoy." Other education students share Lewis' enthusiasm. Liah Heintz wants to become an early elementary teacher. She shared, "I hope to become a kindergarten teacher. Working with kids brings me such joy. It is amazing to see their face light up when they understand a concept you have been working on with them and I can't wait to experience that every day!"

Emma Moore agreed, "I am so excited that Valley is offering more classes for elementary education students." Both Heintz and Moore are currently enrolled in two teaching labs which place students in public school classrooms.

Almeda explained that Kalamazoo Valley's education students spend eight weeks working with students in local classrooms during their teaching labs. "They're in the classroom right away during the first semester," she said. "We have partnerships with Kalamazoo Public Schools, KRESA and Mattawan Consolidated Schools. Students get into public school classrooms starting their very first semester in our program which is a highlight. They observe in EDU 108, 109 and 110 and practice teach in EDU 111, 112 and 213." Moore said, "I can't wait to be a teacher!"

Registration for winter semester opens during the week of Oct. 9 and classes begin on Jan. 8. See www.kvcc.edu/register for details.