Promising Partnerships for Teacher Licensing, Retention, and Support
Breakout Session
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Description
Small and rural districts are struggling due to teacher shortages across the state, especially in hard-to-fill licensure areas like Special Education, ESL, and Bilingual education. Join us as we share the positive impacts of a partnership between the Watertown Unified School District and the CLASS teacher licensure program at CESA 2. In this presentation, we will share how Watertown schools are able to leverage their existing staff and support new staff in obtaining teacher licensure in high need areas through the CLASS program. We’ll outline licensure options, program features, and positive outcomes for teachers and the district. A critical component of this success is collaboration between the licensure program and the district, a unique feature that is built-in to the CLASS program. CLASS has a unique structure to the clinical program that allows for supported clinical coaching, helping with induction and retention in the school district. We’ll share stories and testimonials from Watertown teachers who have benefited from support from both their school and their teacher preparation program. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions from district and CESA 2 representatives with direct experience in this partnership, which is available statewide!
PRESENTER: Kaycee Rogers, CLASS Program Coordinator-CESA 2, PhD Candidate-UW Madison
Kaycee grew up in rural Wisconsin and is a former public school ESL, Spanish, and Elementary teacher. For the past 9 years, she has been an multilingual teacher educator for undergraduate, graduate, and licensure-only programs. She is currently a program coordinator with CESA 2, specializing in language and elementary licensure in their post-baccalaureate teacher licensure program, CESA 2 Licensure Academy for School Staff (CLASS). She is also a PhD candidate studying rural multilingual teacher identity, agency, and positionality. She is working with rural EL educators across Wisconsin to support and amplify their voices in multilingual education.
PRESENTER: Jill Sharp, CLASS Coordinator- CESA 2
A lifelong resident of rural Wisconsin, Jill Sharp’s personal and professional journey is deeply rooted in the values of small-town communities—where she was raised and where she chose to raise her own family. Her career has been dedicated to serving rural districts across the state as a teacher, assistant principal, and high school principal. Jill also served as Assistant Director of the Wisconsin RtI Center and currently works as a CLASS Program Coordinator for Special Education at CESA 2.
Jill is passionate about supporting and empowering educators, with a strong focus on fostering self-efficacy and confidence. She believes in helping individuals recognize their own potential and equipping them with the tools to succeed. Guided by her rural upbringing and community-centered values, Jill is committed to helping schools, systems, and people grow into the best version of themselves.
PRESENTER: Ashley Peirick, Coordinator of Curriculum & Educational Programs - Watertown Unified School District
Ashley also grew up in rural Wisconsin, and her career in education began with teaching in dual language and ESL settings. Currently, Ashley serves as the Curriculum Coordinator for the Watertown Unified School District. She has also mentored new teachers in the district and supports educators who are participating in the CLASS program through CESA 2 as their cooperating teacher.