Trade and industrial education training model

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of orientation and training for teachers who entered secondary vocational programs without a teaching degree or having a professional education background. It focused on trade and industrial education teachers in Tennessee. These were teachers who entered a secondary vocational classroom with little or no education class work or training. The purpose was to develop a model to make these non-teacher trained tradespersons into qualified educators who remained in the profession. The study reviewed data from the Tennessee Board of Education, the Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee universities that offered course work toward occupational licensure, and the results of interviews of several local and state officials whose responsibilities included teacher licensure. The data gathered were compared to existing certification standards and findings reported in related literature. From data gathered, a new model was developed. The model supported the findings and addressed the problems identified through the interviews. It was found that tradespersons desiring to teach need support, training, class work, and certification to become successful and to remain in the profession. The model addressed the needs of the new teachers as well as their schools and the state system. It recommended the establishment of a state office of occupational teacher education to provide the needed services and address the concerns of consistency and accountability. It further recommended that the office be placed in a Tennessee university college of education and the project be considered a pilot for trade and industrial education and other vocational program areas