College of Education News

USOA Mrs. Washington takes on teaching

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Emily Skeers was competing for Miss Lewis County 2008 when she fell sick with a debilitating illness.  

She was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of Crohn’s disease that changed the course of her future.  

“I wanted to be an opera singer. Everyone’s experience with Crohn’s is different, but my experience made this dream impossible,” the Missouri State University graduate student said. “I was 28 years old and couldn’t sing, perform or teach.”  

Skeers’ life was put on pause for eight months after the diagnosis, and it took three years to reach remission.  

Check out Skeers’ podcast 

Intertwining passions 

Since Skeers couldn’t make a career out of singing, she decided to pursue a different passion: teaching.  

Though she lives in Washington, Skeers is currently working on a master’s degree in early childhood and family development online through Missouri State. She plans to graduate in spring 2024. 

“Much of my work at Missouri State is tied to my interest in music,” Skeers said. “For my thesis, I am studying the importance of singing lullabies to babies.”  

Skeers plans to teach a class on the role of music in childhood development in spring 2023. She will teach in her hometown Olympia, WA. 

“Emily takes such a thoughtful approach to her work in her courses and thesis research,” said Dr. Elizabeth King, associate professor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State.  

“I have learned a lot from her about tying meaningful personal experiences to the research process. Working with Emily has been one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences I’ve had at Missouri State.” 

Pageants with a purpose 

Skeers was crowned United States of America’s Mrs. Washington 2023 in September. 

She wants to use her role as USOA Mrs. Washington 2023 to raise awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She has already raised nearly $3,000 in donations for the foundation.  

The foundation researches treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improves the quality of life for those diagnosed with these diseases. Skeers created a support group within the foundation for people to share resources and support one another.  

Skeers will compete for the title of United States of America’s Mrs. in spring 2023 as the “Queen with Crohn’s.”  

She said, “I want to bring attention to Crohn’s disease, garner support for those diagnosed and show people the beauty of resilience.” 

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Understanding the rise of the four-day school week

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Shorter weeks and longer weekends have become a reality for many in Missouri.  

Over 25% of school districts in Missouri switched to a four-day school week since 2008. Only one has reverted.   

“Districts started using the four-day week for financial savings. But the reasons for transitioning have changed over the past few years,” said Dr. Jon Turner.  

Turner is an associate professor of counseling, leadership and special education (CLSE) at Missouri State University.  

Shorter weeks bring positive changes 

Districts primarily transition to shorter weeks to combat teacher shortages.  

“Less than half of Missouri teachers remain in the field after the first five years of teaching, according to a recent report,” Turner said.  

“The four-day week helps schools attract and retain teachers.”  

And for good reason: Faculty and staff reported that shorter weeks improve morale and the academic quality of their teaching, according to a study Turner conducted with CLSE colleagues Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain and Dr. Kim Finch.  

More benefits include:  

  • Higher attendance rates among students. 
  • More time for teachers to plan, collaborate and train. 
  • Better “work/life balance” for teachers and students. 
  • An extra day for students to seek opportunities, such as job shadowing, dual credit programs and volunteering.    

Though there is research that raises concerns about impacts on student achievement, as Turner notes, “the number of instructional minutes is what’s important to student learning. Both four-day and traditional weeks have 1,044 hours of instruction.”  

Additionally, school faculty and staff have more time to work on their professional development.  

Missouri State’s Pathways for Paraprofessionals program allows para educators to pursue a degree and certification in special education while they are employed.  

In districts using the four-day week, paras can use the fifth day to work on their coursework for their degree and certification.    

Learn more about the four-day week 

Barriers of the four-day school week 

Despite the benefits, shortened school weeks can pose challenges.  

“Some families struggle to find childcare for their children on the weekday school isn’t in session,” Turner said. “This mostly affects families who only have elementary-aged children and families with students receiving special education services.” 

To help families with their childcare needs, some districts offer school-operated childcare for the fifth weekday.    

Other concerns include:  

  • Reduced access to school lunches. 
  • More time over the weekend for students to forget what they learned. 
  • Increased risk to children’s safety on the weekday without school.  

Turner said his research indicates most parents do not hold these concerns.  

“Overall, parents tend to support the four-day week. But we need to pay special attention to those families with unique challenges,” he said. 

Become a teacher 

Understanding the rise of the four-day school week

by

Shorter weeks and longer weekends have become a reality for many in Missouri.  

Over 25% of school districts in Missouri switched to a four-day school week since 2008. Only one has reverted.   

“Districts started using the four-day week for financial savings. But the reasons for transitioning have changed over the past few years,” said Dr. Jon Turner.  

Turner is an associate professor of counseling, leadership and special education (CLSE) at Missouri State University.  

Shorter weeks bring positive changes 

Districts primarily transition to shorter weeks to combat teacher shortages.  

“Less than half of Missouri teachers remain in the field after the first five years of teaching, according to a recent report,” Turner said.  

“The four-day week helps schools attract and retain teachers.”  

And for good reason: Faculty and staff reported that shorter weeks improve morale and the academic quality of their teaching, according to a study Turner conducted with CLSE colleagues Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain and Dr. Kim Finch.  

More benefits include:  

  • Higher attendance rates among students. 
  • More time for teachers to plan, collaborate and train. 
  • Better “work/life balance” for teachers and students. 
  • An extra day for students to seek opportunities, such as job shadowing, dual credit programs and volunteering.    

Though there is research that raises concerns about impacts on student achievement, as Turner notes, “the number of instructional minutes is what’s important to student learning. Both four-day and traditional weeks have 1,044 hours of instruction.”  

Additionally, school faculty and staff have more time to work on their professional development.  

Missouri State’s Pathways for Paraprofessionals program allows para educators to pursue a degree and certification in special education while they are employed.  

In districts using the four-day week, paras can use the fifth day to work on their coursework for their degree and certification.    

Learn more about the four-day week 

Barriers of the four-day school week 

Despite the benefits, shortened school weeks can pose challenges.  

“Some families struggle to find childcare for their children on the weekday school isn’t in session,” Turner said. “This mostly affects families who only have elementary-aged children and families with students receiving special education services.” 

To help families with their childcare needs, some districts offer school-operated childcare for the fifth weekday.    

Other concerns include:  

  • Reduced access to school lunches. 
  • More time over the weekend for students to forget what they learned. 
  • Increased risk to children’s safety on the weekday without school.  

Turner said his research indicates most parents do not hold these concerns.  

“Overall, parents tend to support the four-day week. But we need to pay special attention to those families with unique challenges,” he said. 

Become a teacher 

Grow your own program works to add teachers to SPS classrooms

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Class is in session for the first semester of the Future Educators Program, a cooperative arrangement between Missouri State University and Springfield Public Schools. It’s a grow your own program, where Springfield graduates commit to Missouri State University and then commit to teaching in SPS once they graduate.

“Grow your own programs are popping up around the country to draw more folks into the teaching profession,” said Dr. Chloe Bolyard, assistant professor in the College of Education at Missouri State.

“One of the challenges that we are facing nationwide is our student population is diversifying far faster than our teaching workforce, and so this partnership between SPS and MSU hopes to increase the diversity of our teachers so that students have teachers who look like them.”

Future Educators program grows their own

One of the tools to assist with recruitment in this program is the financial incentive, Bolyard explained. 

  • For the high school to educator pathway: Students would receive $2,000 per academic year through an access scholarship from MSU.  Additionally, they would receive a $3,000 per year from Springfield Public Schools.
  • For our college to educator pathway: Current college students would receive $2,000 per academic year through an access scholarship from MSU. They would also receive a $5,000 per year incentive from Springfield Public Schools. 

“Once they are here at Missouri State University, we provide resources for passing their teacher certification exams, resume prep, interview prep, and support them with a mentor in Springfield Public Schools,” Bolyard said. “They would meet with that mentor, who’s a current classroom teacher, once a month and develop a relationship with them.

Apply to the Future Educators program

“We also provide them with four professional learning opportunities for each year that they are in the program and focus on culturally responsive teaching, financial literacy, test preparation and community engagement.”

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Removing barriers for language learners

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Communicating using a non-native language can be challenging and often creates a sense of separation.  

This semester, Missouri State University began the Removing Barriers program to promote equity for English language learners. 

The program provides English instruction to parents of English language learners who attend Springfield Public Schools and live primarily in the Briarwood Mobile Home Park.   

“The English instruction helps break down the barrier of language to allow the parents of these children to truly thrive in the Springfield community,” said Dr. Amber Howard, clinical instructor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State University.  

“These language skills open up so many doors for these families.”  

How it works 

The program started through partnership between the English Language Institute (ELI), Sherwood Elementary, the College of Education and the English Language Development program at Springfield Public Schools, and it is funded through a Collective Impact grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). 

The ELI worked with MSU students enrolled in ELE 501 to teach them how to provide language courses to newcomer English learners.   

Then, the MSU students work directly with English learners and their parents.  

During each session, the group meets at Sherwood Elementary for a meal, and each adult who attends receives a $20 gift card. After the meal, the MSU students give engaging lessons to both the adults and the children.   

The lessons help individuals develop English language skills. These lessons create a natural bridge between home, school and community, and they provide opportunities for real-life practice for the MSU students.   

“The families are so kind, and the children have such a fun time playing games while their parents participate in the language classes,” said Haley Hall, an elementary education student at MSU. 

A brighter future 

The program provides valuable experiences for both the families and the MSU students.   

Noah Lanear, another MSU student, said, “We learn just as much from the parents and their children as they learn from us.” 

The families learn real world skills to help them in the workforce and develop skills to pass on to their children and communities.   

The MSU students learn how to better help English language learner students and their families. They can use these skills in their classrooms, and their students can bring those skills home to their families.   

“The Removing Barriers program has been so helpful for everyone involved. For us MSU students, it gives us a unique learning experience that we haven’t had in any other class,” Hall said.   

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