The University of Idaho’s College of Education will work with Kootenai Technical Education Campus to train new instructors, said Robert Ketchum, a lecturer with the UI Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
“I was brought in last fall to assist in the northern part of the state,” Ketchum said. “So my role is to offer courses for professional technical education teachers who have gone to work in Idaho as new teachers.”
The teachers start with an initial certification, and then complete a series of courses for professional technical education, and earn a standard teaching certification for the technical fields.
KTEC is a newly launched professional-technical high school in Rathdrum, Idaho, that will offer courses students can apply toward high school and college credit.
“It’s quite a significant project,” Ketchum said. “Building’s being completed. It was approved by our local tax payers in a special election.”
Mark Cotner, KTEC director, said the institution is looking to hire instructors who are certified professionals in their technical fields.
“We are looking for individuals who have earned a living in their field,” Cotner said. “After they are hired, we will begin taking them through the classes.”
Hired instructors will have to prove technical competence in their fields to apply for the initial certification, Ketchum said.
“They have to have the level of experience and practical hands-on activity in their fields to be able to qualify technically,” Ketchum said. “I will meet with the teachers and help them produce a professional development plan … with overviews of when they will take these courses, and then that’s submitted to the state of Idaho.”
New KTEC instructors will teach classes in automotive technology, manufacturing and engineering, welding and construction. Courses in the health professions and nursing will also be offered.
High school juniors and seniors are eligible to attend KTEC part time in conjunction with a traditional school, Cotner said, and graduate with a high school diploma and an industry certification.
Cotner said students from across the spectrum have applied.
“It’s the whole gamut,” Cotner said. “Students who don’t intend to go on and get a bachelor’s and students who have full intentions of getting a bachelor’s
degree. Students who want to get into engineering and design.”
Cotner said it serves as a trade school and an opportunity for advanced placement students.
“My own daughter will be starting college with 31 credits on her transcript,” Cotner said.
John Cannon, UI career and technical education program coordinator, said the partnership is part of the university’s mission as a land-grant institution.
“Idaho as a whole is facing a shortage of skilled workers such as trained welders,” Cannon said. “We don’t have enough welders. We need highly-trained workers to take highly-paid jobs.”
KTEC will prepare Idaho high school students to fill that gap, Cannon said.
Joanna Wilson can be reached at [email protected]