Educating Future Teachers Nov. 29, 2012 By Elizabeth Chapin
Arturo Avila helps teach a hands-on physics lesson at a local
school. Avila is currently earning his teaching credential at
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Arturo Avila is a first-generation
college grad with a degree in civil engineering. Kyla BradyLong
earned her bachelor’s in chemistry. Although from very different
backgrounds, both share the love of science. So much, in fact,
they have both decided to become science teachers. Thanks to
initiatives launched by Chancellor Reed, more of California’s
brightest scientists like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo teacher
credential students Avila and BradyLong are pursuing careers in
teaching. California is projected to need upwards of 33,000 new
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers
in the next ten years. The demand for credentialed teachers in
these fields is significantly higher than the supply of fully
qualified candidates. Reed’s emphasis on improving teacher
education led to a systemwid