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Sept. 22, 2004

"There is a national shortage of middle and high school teachers in these areas."

                       -- Dr. David Chobar, associate professor of education at Morningside College

Secondary educator shortage topic of informational session Sept. 30

Morningside College will host an informational session that seeks to address the shortage of middle and high school teachers on Thursday, Sept. 30, from 4:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the U.P.S. Auditorium of the Lincoln Center. The session is designed for all Morningside College new and transfer freshmen and sophomore students whose major is undecided.

The session "Don't be Sedentary, be Secondary" will begin with free pizza and soda from 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. From 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., students will view the video "Be a Teacher, Change a Life" and hear from Morningside's education department faculty members on the secondary education program at Morningside. Area middle and high school educators will also share their teaching experiences and answer questions.

The Iowa Department of Education has designated current secondary teacher shortages in the areas of science, music, mathematics, foreign language, industrial technology, English as a second language, talented and gifted, agriculture, and special education.

"There is a national shortage of middle and high school teachers in these areas," said Dr. David Chobar, associate professor of education at Morningside, who is organizing the event. "Many students may be outstanding in the areas of science or math, for example, but have never considered teaching."

Students interested in attending the informational session are asked to pre-register by contacting Dr. David Chobar at (712) 274-5302 or by e-mail.

Teachers involved in the discussion session include Alan McGaffin, Educational Coordinator, Western Iowa Tech Community College; 1974 Morningside graduate Virginia McKnight, English teacher at West High School; 1987 Morningside graduate Paul Niebuhr, instrumental music teacher at Gehlen Catholic School in LeMars, Iowa, and the "2004 Siouxland Alumni Teacher of the Year;" Emily Taylor, English teacher at West High School; Jeremy Taylor, English teacher at North High School; Christa Mesz, science teacher at West Middle School; and Bryan Ferris, substitute history teacher and swimming coach in South Sioux City, Neb.

Morningside College currently offers a bachelor of science in elementary education, a dual major in secondary education, a bachelor of science in special education, and a master of arts in teaching.