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University partnership takes aim at teacher shortage

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A new agreement between Ozarks Technical Community College and Southwest Baptist University is designed to address a teacher shortage in the state.

The colleges signed an articulation agreement through which OTC graduates who earn an associate degree in teaching can more easily sign on for SBU's bachelor's in elementary education program, according to a news release.

“Even before the pandemic, Missouri was experiencing a significant teacher shortage, and the pandemic has made that problem worse,” said Angie Miller, OTC department chair for teacher education, in the release. “This articulation agreement with SBU will help OTC students earn the certification they need to fill many of these openings.”

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reported a nearly 5.1% shortage in full-time equivalent instructors for the 2020-21 academic year. Hit hardest are elementary education, early childhood education, early childhood special education and general science.

The partnership represents at least the third recent action by OTC to respond to workforce shortage needs in the community.

OTC this summer is launching an accelerated, four-week construction course in response to workforce issues identified by local employers in the industry.

OTC separately announced it would offer two sections of its 20-week industrial welding specialist course during the fall in response to employer requests, according to a news release.

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