Six Alabama universities launch UTeach sites; program managers report nearly 400 STEM majors exploring teaching

Officials from six Alabama universities told the State Board of Education during a work session that they have launched UTeach-style educator-preparation sites and that nearly 400 STEM majors across the state are taking exploratory courses that could lead to teaching certification.

The UTeach representative said, “We currently have almost 400 STEM majors across the state exploring STEM PGA. The actual number is 392,” and added that the six new sites brought in 229 of those students so far. Lawrence Cooper, program manager for the Alabama STEM Council, said the parallel curricula and administrative structures between sites have made collaboration easier.

Why it matters: The UTeach model is an alternative pathway intended to shorten and coordinate preparation for STEM majors who want teacher certification while preserving their degree plans. State officials and the UTeach sites said the approach aims to increase the supply of qualified STEM teachers in Alabama public schools.

What presenters told the board - The six institutions described similar scaffolds for coursework, field experiences and transition points that culminate in methods courses specific to grade band or content. - The UTeach representative described a “master teacher” model in which veteran classroom teachers are hired as full‑time university staff to mentor candidates throughout undergraduate studies and into the first two years of classroom induction; presenters said master teachers often remain involved with cohorts for up to six years. - Lawrence Cooper, program manager for the Alabama STEM Council, said the parallel course and administrative design has enabled master teachers at different universities to coordinate problem‑solving and logistics.

Accountability and reporting Presenters said the UTeach Institute (the national mentor organization for the model) requires semester and annual reports from each UTeach site and compiles a cross‑site summary. The presenters said those reports will be provided to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and will be available to the State Board. The UTeach representative said sites must meet teacher‑preparation requirements, including required performance assessments and supervised student‑teaching experiences.

Recruitment and funding Presenters said a statewide communications and recruitment plan will begin later this year, supported in part by legislative funding. The UTeach representative described campus‑level outreach to students, high school counselors and parents and said early marketing had already produced the initial enrollment numbers.

Questions board members asked included how sites coordinate local school placements, who serves as co‑directors on campuses and how the statewide reporting will be provided to the board. Presenters offered to share UTeach Institute reports and a condensed executive summary for board review.

Background and next steps Presenters noted that the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s UTeach site has been on an innovative status since February 2014 and that the current rollout expands the model to additional public institutions. Board members were asked to expect future executive summaries and semester reports and were told recruitment and site development will continue into the coming academic year.

Ending Presenters said they will provide the board with UTeach Institute annual reports and a statewide executive summary; board members asked staff to arrange for the condensed reports going forward. No formal board vote was recorded on the UTeach sites during the session.