The Urban Teacher Academy will become one aspect of an ambitious plan to reorganize Dayton Public Schools to better serve the community. For the University of Dayton to commit to channeling people into our urban setting is highly commendable. In addition to regular coursework, UD students chosen for the Urban Teacher Academy will attend intense and targeted seminars on topics such as discipline and the effect of poverty on culture and education. They'll meet with their mentors in conjunction with each seminar to define expectations and discuss real-life experiences. Studies have shown that committed teachers can be an important factor in helping children in urban schools succeed.
Teachers are extremely important.
My belief is that teacher education programs can potentially make a big, positive difference. Hopefully, programs such as the one that the University of Dayton is beginning will provide a big boost to the effectiveness of future urban school teachers. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 2 million new teachers will be needed in America's public school classrooms over the next decade. They have the talent matched with the attitude to be conducive and effective. Urban teachers need to have stamina, they need to be creative in their thinking, adaptable and flexible.