GRANT FOR TEACHING WON REGION TO GET $470,000 TOWARD TRAINING.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - In hopes of recruiting student teachers, the state has awarded a $470,000 grant to a consortium of school systems in the region.

The Newhall School District, the William S. Hart Union High School District, College of the Canyons, Antelope Valley College and California State University, Bakersfield, have formed a partnership and will use the money to help students prepare for careers in education.

``I believe this program is an innovative way to simultaneously prepare young people for careers in teaching and help solve the severe shortage of teachers in the Santa Clarita Valley,'' College of the Canyons Superintendent-President Dianne Van Hook said.

``It's a program that really goes to the heart of a critical need in Santa Clarita and in California,'' added college spokeswoman Sue Bozman said. ``We need to be training more teachers and encourage more people to go into teaching.''

Funded by the California Community College Chancellor's Office, the Teacher Preparation Consortium of Northern Los Angeles will get $470,333.

The Teacher and Reading Development Partnership will grant $349,419 over five years, while AmeriCorps will add $120,914 over three years for the training program.

The money will be used for teacher recruitment and development programs. Funds from AmeriCorps will be used to boost reading skills of young children.

California is seriously short of qualified teachers because of growing population, efforts to reduce the number of students per teacher and high rates of teacher retirement, officials noted.

The California Department of Education estimates that 260,000 new teachers will be needed within the next five years in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Locally, the consortium will initiate a pilot program focusing on Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley high schools and college students interested in teaching careers.

A marketing campaign will be developed to try to motivate high school seniors to study for careers in education.

Students would be guided through their courses as they obtain the necessary degrees and credentials.

The College of the Canyons staff will work with counterparts at California State University, Bakersfield, which offers courses at the Valencia community college for a four-year degree.

While obtaining degrees and credentials, teaching students will get some experience tutoring children in kindergarten through third grade to help them read better.

``We would be giving students experience in the classrooms,'' said Barry Gribbons, dean of institutional services at College of the Canyons. ``They kind of get their feet wet.''

Teaching students in the program would get stipends, as well as college credit, for their tutoring time. They also would get book grants and education awards.