CBC selects professor to head new education department

When Shanda New became certified to teach secondary science in Texas, she had no idea she would one day spearhead a project to produce more educators in central Arkansas.

However, that is precisely what she will begin doing this summer.

Shanda New, a part-time education teacher at Central Baptist College, will soon take her paperwork out of the classroom. New will have her own office in July, when she takes on the position of the school's first chair of education. LIBERTY PARKS PHOTO

As of July 1, New will serve as Central Baptist College's first chair of the school's newest department education.

After seven years as a teacher and three years as an administrator, New moved to Conway when her husband was hired by CBC in the behavioral sciences department.

"Ever since that first year at CBC, I have heard people wishing there was a four-year program in education," New said. "It was something we always knew was an attainable goal; we just thought it would be later, rather than sooner."

New, who teaches CBC's few education courses, said she was thrilled when she learned an education department was on its way.

"Since I was already on board in a part-time capacity, they offered me a full-time job and I'm so excited about developing this new program," New said.

Although New will move into her office in July, she said she will likely spend her first school year managing the accreditation process through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

"We won't be a department for probably two or three more semesters, but we do have an associate's degree in education available," New said. "So it is conceivable that the freshmen in that program may be the new department's first graduating class."

Today, CBC offers associate's degrees in elementary education, middle school math and science and middle school language arts.

New said with the creation of an actual education department, and the hiring of a few new instructors, the number of teachers produced by CBC is likely to increase.

"I really feel strongly that teaching is a calling and the teachers who are the most satisfied and the most successful in their jobs tend to see it from that perspective," New said. "And I think students who attend a teaching program at a Christian college are even more likely to approach it from that perspective."

New said the majority of the students pursuing teaching at CBC now transfer to the University of Central Arkansas to finish their degrees. She said she looks forward to all three of Conway's campuses having the ability to produce more teachers.

"I think in today's economy, education is a stable field to go into, even though districts are feeling the recession," New said. "There are always going to be jobs available for great teachers and that is exactly what we want to prepare here great teachers."

In a news release from CBC, Gary McAllister, vice president of academic affairs, said he believes the addition of an education department will up enrollment quickly and boost other programs, such as math, literature and history.

"In all of these areas, there will be new students who desire to teach these subjects and can now come to CBC to get that education," McAllister said in the release. "This new program will provide substantial growth in departments and enrollment."

He added the students who take advantage of this new opportunity and graduate from CBC will increase the school's level of prestige in collegiate circles and the community.

(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)