Sumter County, Alabama ranks in the 10 lowest counties for average household income in the U.S. But it’s also home to one of the top teacher education programs. The University of West Alabama (UWA) is working to overcome the state’s teacher shortage by using GoReact to help more teacher candidates become successful, licensed educators.
Because of the unique demographic UWA serves, they also face unique challenges. Every year, CAEP raises the bar for teacher candidates, which can be difficult for first-generation and rural students already struggling to meet GPA requirements.
Another major challenge for UWA is travel. Before implementing GoReact video assessment software, supervisors needed funds for hotels, meals, and gas just to observe two-hour lessons around the state—sometimes up to four hours away. In one year, because of growth in online students, the department exceeded their travel budget by $30,000.
Tags: Case Study • Teacher education