Saint Martin's education division gets high marks in
teacher placement
Friday, January 16, 2004
Lacey - The Saint Martin’s College education division recently received
news that in 2003, it placed first among the 21 institutions statewide in
the percentage of students hired immediately as full-time teachers after
graduating.
The statistics, compiled by Washington’s Office of Superintendent of
Instruction, gave the placement rate for Saint Martin’s as 84 percent.
Placements at other institutions ranged down to 22 percent. Overall, the
average for the state as a whole declined to 58 percent from last year’s
67 percent.
“We have extremely hard-working students, said Joyce Westgard, the
College’s dean of education. “The faculty and support staff at Saint
Martin’s is proud to provide quality programs that let them develop
outstanding teaching skills. The hiring percentage of our graduates is a
reflection of the dedication and commitment to the education profession by
student, faculty and staff.”
While the figures represent the number of graduates hired immediately
after graduating, additional students received teaching positions
throughout the year, Westgard said. At Saint Martin’s, 95 percent of
education graduates were hired within one year after completing their
programs.
Saint Martin’s offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate and
post-baccalaureate programs through its education division at its main
campus in Lacey and at the Fort Lewis and McChord extension campuses.
Hallmarks of the college’s education programs include substantial use of
students’ field experiences in public school classrooms; commitment to
meeting the needs of a diverse population; faculty who model compassion as
educators; and the strong and mutually beneficial partnerships maintained
between the college and local schools.
For more information:
Joyce Westgard
Dean, education division
360-438-4509 or jwestgard@stmartin.edu
Deanna Partlow
Media coordinator/senior editor
360-438-4541or dpartlow@stmartin.edu