Education Professor Benefits from Phonathon Efforts

Alumni responded with fervor to last year's Phonathon, especially in the College of Education, where more than 480 graduates made unrestricted gifts to support the college's emerging needs. Interim Dean Jane McCarthy allocated some of the resources so professor Cari Klecka could attend a conference for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Klecka, who coordinates the graduate program in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on teacher leadership, is shaping UNLV's master's curriculum to help local teachers succeed at certification — a hallmark of excellence in the classroom. Her trip to the conference (one she would not have made without the annual fund support) provided the opportunity to learn from other school districts' leaders who have successfully implemented similar programs.

“We've built a partnership with the Clark County School District through our master's program to align coursework with the national standards,” she explains.

Studies show that students in the classes led by board-certified teachers academically surpass students in the classrooms of teachers who don't hold the certification. Currently, only 90 teachers of more than 18,000 in the school district are NBPTS certified; Klecka believes that raising that number will lead to increased quality and teacher retention within the school district.

Klecka and doctorate student Cyndi Herron, the CCSD liaison for certification, also lobbied several state representatives for their support of resources that will help more Nevada teachers achieve certification.

McCarthy appreciates the commitment from alumni and other friends, and says the support underscores the commitment to education among UNLV graduates. Unrestricted support is one of the college's Invent the Future campaign priorities. “The extra funding allows our faculty to supplement their professional experiences to benefit the college and our community,” McCarthy says. “A little support from each of our alumni goes a long way.”