Busta’s Organization of the Week: WS-TEACH helping to solve teacher shortage by supporting educators as they work toward master’s degree

By Busta Brown The list of teacher shortages is growing rapidly, so three of the top universities in Winston-Salem decided to come together, to find out why and do something about it.  “This initiative began prior to my involvement and is led by Provost Anthony Graham of Winston-Salem State University, Dr. Alan Brown, chair of education at Wake Forest University, Dr. Sheryl Long, formerly of Salem College and now dean of education at Meredith College, and a representative from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WSFCS).  “Together, they recognized the critical teacher shortage and educational challenges facing our community,” stated Dr. Cynthia Williams Brown, associate dean of education and WS-TEACH co-principal investigator at Winston-Salem State University.   The Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), as key teacher education programs in the area, made a collective commitment to addressing these issues. The outcome of this partnership is Winston-Salem Teachers for Equity, Achievement, Community & Humanity (WS TEACH), an organization formed by three IHEs in Winston-Salem to transform the quality of education within Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Winston-Salem TEACH is dedicated to creating a pipeline of highly effective teachers specifically for high-need schools in the district. Dr. Rebecca Jordan, associate professor of literacy education, Salem College, co-PI, said...