STEP

The Southwestern Teacher Education Preparation project began at Southwestern in 1999 under the direction of Dean Renee Kilmer, Dr. Ralph Edsell, and Professor Jon Bates. The program has grown since then into a thriving asset for students interested in transferring to San Diego State University and other institutions in pursuit of a Liberal Studies degree or a single-subject or multiple-subject teaching credential.

In 2002, the program was awarded a three-year grant from the San Diego State University Foundation to promote teaching as a profession and to prepare students for transfer to SDSU and other institutions in pursuit of teaching credentials. The funding allowed for greater visibility in the community and the number of students involved in STEP grew rapidly.

In 2004, Professor Randy Beach was hired to teach Education courses coordinate the STEP program, which raised the profile of STEP on campus and in the community even more. Since, 1999, over 250 students have been involved in the STEP program to some degree either as an active participant of the Future Educators of America Club, as a student in a STEP program course, or as a volunteer at an area school.

Since 2004 the program has increased in class offerings and faculty. Prof. Cynthia McDaniel and Prof. Michael Wickert, along with Prof. Beach, teach several sections of ED 200 and several sections of ENGL 115 AND ENGL 116 specifically designed to benefit those students pursuing careers in education.  

For the first time in Fall 2008, the STEP program will offer a Certificate of Achievement in Teacher Education Preparation here at Southwestern College. The certificate is the only one of its kind at a community college in the South Bay region.