{"id":143250,"date":"2021-06-08T08:29:02","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T18:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=143250"},"modified":"2021-06-08T08:29:02","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T18:29:02","slug":"leeward-cc-blazes-national-trail-with-teacher-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/06\/08\/leeward-cc-blazes-national-trail-with-teacher-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Leeward CC<\/abbr> blazes national trail with teacher programs"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Leeward\u02bbs teacher education faculty and staff provide student support.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leeward Community College<\/a> is the first community college in the nation to receive a full seven-year accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation<\/a> (AAQEP<\/abbr>). The recognition is for two credentials within the college\u2019s Teacher Education Program<\/a>: the Alternative Certification for Career and Technical Education<\/a> and the Advanced Professional Certificate in Special Education<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review, the AAQEP<\/abbr> Accreditation Commission issued the decision at its April 30 meeting.<\/p>\n

“AAQEP<\/abbr> is delighted to acknowledge Leeward\u2019s programs as the first community college-based programs to achieve accreditation, and to recognize those programs\u2019 ongoing work to improve access to teaching for underrepresented students from local communities,” wrote AAQEP<\/abbr> President and CEO<\/abbr> Mark LaCelle-Peterson.<\/p>\n

The AAQEP<\/abbr> Accreditation Commission concluded that Leeward CC<\/abbr> is adaptable and will engage with stakeholders and partners to strengthen the P–20 education system, while maintaining the institution\u2019s commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian community.<\/p>\n

“Our educational programs have been designed to meet local needs, and are key to the continued growth and future of Hawaiʻi<\/span>,” said Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza<\/strong>. “This accreditation clearly indicates our commitment to access education, and our communities can rest assured that the value of our Teacher Education Program is second to none.”<\/p>\n

Meeting community needs<\/h2>\n
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Christina Keaulana, left, coordinates the Special Education Program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Career and Technical Licensure Program Coordinator Brian Ichida<\/strong>, working with community educators and partners is crucial to the program\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

“We are honored to receive full accreditation from AAQEP<\/abbr> in recognition of our teacher education program faculty, staff and [career and technical education] partners. Our commitment to working with school leaders, and engaging with the local community is reflected in this positive assessment of our academic programs,” Ichida said.<\/p>\n

The full AAQEP<\/abbr> accreditation also helps Leeward CC<\/abbr> meet a critical need for qualified special education teachers in Hawaiʻi<\/span>.<\/p>\n

“Through AAQEP<\/abbr> accreditation we can deliver a much-needed pathway to licensure in special education, an area that has persistently experienced the highest shortages of highly qualified teachers in our state,” said Christina Keaulana<\/strong>, special education licensure program coordinator. “We are grateful for the recognition that our innovative approach to teacher preparation aligned with professional standards of practice can serve as a model for non-traditional teacher preparation.”<\/p>\n

National accreditation assures the quality of professional preparation programs through a nongovernmental, nonregulatory process of self-study and peer review. This standards- and evidence-based process serves two broad aims: accountability and continuous improvement. The AAQEP<\/abbr> model is also designed to honor local context and foster innovation and collaboration among institutions. AAQEP<\/abbr> currently has members in 27 states and territories with more than 150 educator preparation providers participating in the accreditation system.<\/p>\n

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Graduates from Leeward\u02bbs N\u0101n\u0101kuli Educational Assistant to Teacher Pilot Program<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two education certificate programs receive full accreditation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[65,911,933,71],"class_list":["post-143250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-program-recognition","tag-teacher-education","tag-uh-community-colleges","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t