Cerritos College was one of ten community colleges in the nation to be recognized and awarded $10,000 for its excellence in K-12 teacher preparation programs by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The ten community colleges were identified for having outstanding work in six specific categories in AACC’s National Science Foundation-supported teacher preparation program, including student recruitment, student retention, professional development, curriculum development, instruction, and licensure/articulation. Cerritos College’s Teacher Training Academy (Teacher TRAC) was recognized for its strength in student retention.

Each of the winning colleges received $10,000 for use toward expanding and enhancing their program. Cerritos College’s Teacher TRAC was one of two community colleges in California to receive the honor; the Teacher Prep Center at City College of San Francisco also received the distinction. The Teaching by Choice Community College Teacher Preparation Program Recognition Award acknowledges work for programs that include science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The winning colleges will each receive a $10,000 award. Each college plans to use the recognition award funds to expand or enhance its current program.

Selection criteria for the award were based on recommendations from a 2004 national conference hosted by the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC), National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP), and AACC. Recommendations for awards in each of the six award categories were examined against the background of four themes – diversity, collaboration, resources, and assessment.

Recommendations and the full conference report, “Teaching by Choice: Community College Science and Mathematics Preparation of K-12 Teachers,” are available at www.aacc.nche.edu/tbc_K12rept.

Cerritos College’s Teacher TRAC program offers many services, programs, and pathways for students interested in teaching K-12. For students interested in becoming an elementary school teacher, Teacher TRAC’s flagship program is a partnership with California State University Long Beach. As a student in the integrated, standards-based Teacher TRAC / CSULB program, students can earn their bachelor’s degree and multiple subject teaching credentials and complete their student teaching within four years. For more information about the program, visit http://www.teachertrac.com/.