By Dr. Curtis Varnell
From computer technology to catching macro-invertebrates, The Guy Fenter Education Service cooperative (GFESC) has had a busy year. Located at County Line schools, the education cooperative services school districts throughout a five county area. Organized more than 40 years ago to provide schools the ability to share resources and to jointly purchase educational materials at a reduced rate, the cooperative has grown to provide teacher professional development, train early childhood providers, promote vocational and technical education, migrant services, and to serve as a conduit between the Arkansas Department of Education and local districts.
School is out for students but most teachers are busy obtaining the 30-60 hours of education classes they are required as a part of their contract. This summer, GFESC offered 235 workshops for the several thousand educators found in the region. Teacher training varies according to the needs of the districts as well as the courses mandated by the state for teacher certification. State mandated courses include instruction of prevention of suicide, bullying, and child abuse to methods of improving reading and literacy scores.
With new emphasis on vocational and technical training, GFESC has been active in working with local districts and universities in arranging concurrent credit and training in everything ranging from welding and nursing to school based gardens.
Teacher shortage is a real issue. Tammy Brewer, GFESC novice teacher program director, provides on-job training to more than 400 first through third year (novice teachers). An on-going program, the novice teachers are provided training that will assist them in providing quality education to students. With an 85% teacher retention rate, it is one of the more effective programs in the state.
Content instruction is delivered by cooperative specialists, all of whom are experience teachers with additional ADE training. Specialist deliver training in both how to teach and in increasing the content knowledge of participants. This summer, teachers have experienced geology on a barge trip around lake Ouachita, learned water quality and ecology with the staff at the Janet Huckabee Nature Center, and explored the history and geology of Mt. Magazine. Social studies teachers, with an entire set of new standards, have devised lessons and mapped our units for next year, taking a few days off to explore the music and history of Arkansas with a session at U/AFS and the Marshall’s museum.
School begins for most districts on Aug. 14. When that occurs, GFESC staff will disperse out into the 75 plus school buildings in the region to provide training, resources, and support for all of our area schools.
As you meet area educators, give them a thank you and a pat on the back. Although far from the best paid and most acknowledged schools in the state, our districts state and national evaluations show that they are some of the very best. There is always room for improvement but area educators are working hard to provide the best quality education for our students.
