SCHOOL OF TEACHING, LEARNING AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

The School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences (STLES) prepares educators who lead in the global community and advocate for high-quality education for all. Students experience rural, suburban and urban educational settings and a low student-to-faculty ratio. Graduates make transformative impacts on schools, people and communities, helping children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally.

The School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences is working to retain educators in Oklahoma through OK-Thrive, a new mentorship and coaching program to support new teachers and Extension educators at the inception of their careers.

“We’ve known for many years that retention of educators needs the attention of our work. As part of our land-grant mission, we’re excited to support our graduates and help them establish their teaching roots in Oklahoma,” said Dr. Shelbie Witte, head of the School of Teaching, Learning and Educational Sciences.

OK-Thrive (The Retention of Innovative Educators) is intentionally designed to support educators and the unique challenges they face in the critical first three years in the profession.

FY2022 IN REVIEW

17 Proposals Submitted 15 New Awards

$5,528,504

Amount of Proposals

$1,251,931

Amount of all Awards

OK-Thrive launched a pilot program in 2022-23 partnering with Stillwater Public Schools and Guthrie Public Schools, to serve and support OSU teacher education graduates who are beginning their first year of teaching. Programming includes workshops that address critical needs of early career teachers, collaborative professional development communities and personalized coaching to meet teachers right where they are and address their individual needs.

OK-Thrive is funded in part through appropriations for higher education by the Oklahoma legislature in HB2900 to address the critical shortage of certified teachers in Oklahoma.

OSU is collecting data on the effectiveness of the program and impact on teachers and continue to refine OK-Thrive with the goal of expanding to serve educators in school districts across Oklahoma.