Preparing exemplary educators for tomorrow’s schools

Abstract

Education is a primary vehicle for economic development, social mobility, and personal well being. Both Kenya and the United States are in a period of intense attention to primary and secondary education, as well as higher education. Teacher preparation has become a controversial issue all over the world. Questions regarding how much formal preparation is needed and how it should be delivered are the focus of much debate and experimentation. Our countries have seen waves of reform, with the understanding that teachers are critical to student success and educational effectiveness. We are facing a global need to recruit, prepare, and retain millions of teachers. In addition, large numbers of practicing teachers need to be replaced or retrained. Thus, attention to teacher preparation and the preparation of school leaders could not be more timely for Schools of Education.