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K - 12 TEACHER TRAINING AND DIVERSITY AMONG PRIORITIES OF NEW CHANCELLOR Diversity initiatives, training programs that increase the ranks of elementary and secondary teachers, learning through technology, planning for a burgeoning population, and improving the transfer of credits to universities are among priorities of Dr. Fred Gaskin, who became Chancellor of The Maricopa Community College District on July 1. Diversity and teacher training were among his specialties as recent leader of Cerritos College (in suburban Los Angeles), where 80 percent of the students are from traditionally under-represented groups and 60 percent learn English as a second language. Also, Dr. Gaskin established an innovative teacher education program that the governor of California has hailed as highly successful. Prior to taking the reins as Chancellor, he was President and Superintendent of Cerritos College for seven years. In all, Dr. Gaskin has served as a leader in the nation’s community colleges for the past 25 years. "The importance of diversity has been recognized in Maricopa but we need to strengthen that," he says. For starters, the Chancellor will emphasize increased diversity among Maricopa Community College District faculty and will discuss with faculty members a possible "grow your own" program to train prospective faculty members who represent various minority groups. As veteran faculty members retire within the next few years and the county population continues to swell, this 10-college system may need up to 100 new faculty members each year for several years, officials report. "We have an opportunity to increase the numbers of underrepresented faculty. Not only is this the right thing to do, it adds dimension and important representation that benefits students," Dr. Gaskin says. An example of how to "grow" these faculty members: employees who have Bachelors degrees might work in college learning assistance centers and skill centers and also train alongside experienced faculty. At the same time, the employees would pursue Masters degrees in their fields. "There are many additional aspects to promoting diversity and I look forward to talking with individuals and groups on this topic," he adds. TURNING AROUND THE K-12 TEACHER SHORTAGE Disturbing headlines in recent months indicate severe teacher shortages in kindergarten through 12th grades. In cooperation with Arizona’s universities, The Maricopa Community Colleges can play a strong role in reversing the problem, Dr. Gaskin believes. Arizona falls far short of recruiting the 2,500 new teachers needed each year. "We talk a lot about the shortage of teachers, about paying them more money, about reducing class size, but we don’t talk enough about creating opportunities to develop new teachers -- and, with that, elevating the profession of teaching. "We elevate the profession of nursing by continuously telling our nursing students that the field is important, that they will be important people when they get their degree. When they graduate, they know that nursing is very valuable. We haven’t done that with teaching and we must start to do that." The Dynamic Learning program at South Mountain Community College is one successful program that links SMCC area schools and Arizona State University to produce talented elementary school teachers. Additional programs are vital in order to provide quality teachers for a burgeoning population, Dr. Gaskin notes. MARRIAGE OF TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION The new Chancellor is inspired by the positive impact of technology. "The economy, especially in the United States, is robust; economists say it is because of technology. We are more productive and inflation is virtually non-existent because of technology. Look at this from a global perspective; then, look at it from the standpoint of what technology can do for individual students. The convergence of the associate degree and the students’ deftness with technology provides that step for upward mobility." Dr. Gaskin continues, "Without a doubt, I am interested in the training and networking of computer technicians and the like; however, my real interest is in students using technology to be better nurses, teachers, anthropologists, auto mechanics, and so on. Think of what is available to students on the Web today that wasn’t available just a few years ago – and how quickly anyone can access the information. It’s astounding." The Maricopa Community Colleges have done a good job in keeping up with changes in technology, "and we need to continue to invest in this. It’s a high priority," the leader adds. "One way is through migration of our systems; some of our colleges do a very good job of that." This may be accomplished by continuously migrating existing technology to areas of less need and adding the newest technology in areas of highest need, he says. TRAINING PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS ‘CRITICAL’ Dr. Gaskin lauds the colleges’ training programs for businesses. "It’s a great option and we must continuously let businesses know about it," he says. "Training is very expensive but very critical to the success of an operation and there’s no better place to get training at the right dollar amount than here and in other community colleges throughout the nation. We are supported by a local tax base, a portion comes through the state, so we can offer this training at a competitive price. The quality has to be there, the responsiveness has to be there. If someone needs training so their employees can excel, it must be done promptly and it must be customized for that employer. In the Maricopa Community Colleges, we know how to do these things." In addition, he notes, "There is a culture here of understanding the synergy that exists when groups with common purposes work together." He points to the numerous partnerships with public schools and universities, such as Achieving a College Education (ACE) programs. "Parterships and linkages create a smooth transition from K-12 to community colleges and then to universities. "We need to create college students who become transfer students. For so many students, college isn’t discussed at home; it’s not perceived as a goal. Therefore, it’s our job to help create that reality." GROWTH AND MORE GROWTH A major challenge for this new Maricopa Community Colleges chief executive will be the exploding growth throughout the county -- "because it so relates to everything we do." In its initial stages is a districtwide strategic plan that will take about 18 months to develop and will become a "living document" that will incorporate annual modifications and analyses as the population grows and changes. It will be used as a blueprint to direct the district and will lead to a future bond referendum. Bond money from the 1994 referendum has been assigned and used. "We will run out of bond money before we run out of students," Dr. Gaskin says, noting that the Valley increases by an overwhelming 90,000 to 100,000 residents a year. MARICOPA ‘EXCEEDS REPUTATION’ For four months prior to becoming Chancellor, Dr. Gaskin began meeting with groups and individuals in order to learn more about the system. "I discovered that the Maricopa Community College District actually exceeds its reputation. It took me a while to understand why. It is this: I believe people evaluate the Maricopa Community College District based on what they do on their own campuses. They see the Maricopa Community Colleges doing some of the same things they are doing – only better in most cases. What they may miss is something that I have learned after studying and visiting the colleges for a number of months: I see very creative people doing innovative work which far exceeds the expectations of most everyone else." Click here for next story.