Reinvesting in Education: How the ISU College of Education and The Albion Center are Providing Opportunities in Education Across the Nation

In today’s dynamic educational landscape, equipping and empowering educators with the necessary knowledge and skills is essential to creating thriving learning environments and school communities. However, as the nation reaches an educational cliff with fewer traditional students pursuing higher education, the rising costs of tuition and professional development, and P-12 districts struggling to employ high-quality educators, finding ways to fund and support education can be challenging. Idaho State University (ISU) has embraced this challenge. Through the joint efforts of the College of Education and The Albion Center for Professional Development, ISU is setting a national standard for supporting and providing accessible, affordable opportunities for both aspiring and current educators.

The Albion Center: A Pioneer in Professional Development

The Albion Center, housed in the College of Education, is a national leader in professional development for P-12 teachers. It saw a significant expansion in 2018 when it launched a catalog of fully online courses. Courses are priced at $55 per credit with no extra fees, making them the lowest price in the state of Idaho. The growing selection of 100% online, self-paced courses covers in-demand topics like STEM, mental health, human rights, suicide prevention, leadership, and more. Upon successful completion, in-service educators can request a free transcript and apply the professional development credits toward career progression, certification renewal, skill acquisition, and salary advancement.

“We feel it is important to provide educators nationwide with relevant courses that address the challenges they face in the classroom,” said The Albion Center’s Executive Director, Gabriel Rodriguez. “Teachers choose The Albion Center not only for our affordability and 100% online options, but for the resources we provide them as they look to advance in their careers while continuing to support their students in one of the most critical professions.”

As of June 2024, more than 62,000 educators across the United States, including over 80% of Idaho educators, have chosen The Albion Center for their continued learning, thus solidifying its reputation as a premier provider for teachers to continue to learn and grow in their profession. Their most recent initiative offered every educator nationwide a $200 credit (no cash value) to use towards professional development courses in their catalog. The Albion Center’s revenue has grown over the last four years from $400,000 annually to between $8-12 million a year. This revenue has been used to support ISU, specifically by reinvesting back into the College of Education.

Reinvesting for Impact: The College of Education’s Expansion

More than $2 million has been reinvested into the College of Education in recent years thanks to the financial revenue generated from The Albion Center. These funds have supported additional student scholarships, faculty innovation and research, facility upgrades, and experiential learning opportunities.

Notable projects include: 

• International ROARing Experience Teaching Practicum in the Dominican Republic
• Teaching in Rural Areas Immersion Learning (TRAIL) Experience
• The annual ISU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education Conference
• The annual Bengal Triathlon (led by students)
• The ISU National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration (led by students)
• Sport management and athletic administration student involvement at the College Football Award Ceremonies in Las Vegas
• Instructional design and technology graduate student involvement at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Conference (AECT) 
• School psychology student involvement at the Idaho School Association Conference (ISPA)
• Various elementary and secondary STEM camps 

A number of improvements were also made to college-managed spaces, including the Human Performance Lab, Biomechanics Labs, the Center for Sport Studies, the College of Education student lounge, and various shared spaces across campus. Additionally, the College is a partner to other units at ISU, including the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Program for Institutional Effectiveness (PIE), the Successful Transitions and Retention Track (START) Program, and the Festival of Trees. The College of Education has established partnerships with various community organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Idaho, the KIND Community, and the Pocatello/Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce to name a few. 

Due to these reinvestment initiatives, the College has been able to equip and empower students through the accomplishment of much-needed projects and partnerships, providing additional funding to alleviate the cost of tuition, and providing competitive, hands-on experiences that are critical to students’ future career success. These initiatives have continued to have a positive impact on the College and campus community as a whole.

 College highlights over the past 4 years include:

• 6% new student enrollment increase
• $3 million awarded in external grants (awarded to faculty)
• $2.3 million in gifts or commitments raised 
• Over 500 educators across Idaho participated in the Make Your Classroom ROAR campaign which included a box with free ISU gear 
• Over $150,000 spent on marketing campaigns to promote undergraduate and graduate programs
• Establishment of a state-of-the-art donor wall in the College of Education lobby – a first of its kind on the ISU campus
• Establishment of the Paraprofessional to Certified Teacher (PaCT) Program and the Online Teacher Education Program (OTEP)

Addressing the Teacher Shortage: The PaCT Program

Most notably under the leadership of Dean McGivney-Burelle in 2022, the College of Education launched the Paraprofessional to Certified Teacher (PaCT) program to address the ongoing teacher shortage. PaCT is an 100% online teacher education program designed for working paraprofessionals, providing them the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree with teacher certification. Current certification areas include elementary education, special education, and English as a second language. Using revenue generated from The Albion Center and working in partnership with more than 14 school districts, tuition is covered for district-recommended paraprofessionals to become certified elementary or special education teachers. 

Lori Johnson is a 52 year-old, first-generation college student who completed her first year in the PaCT program in May 2024. Having worked in the school system as a paraprofessional for over 14 years, Johnson describes the PaCT program as helping her to finally accomplish her lifelong dream of becoming a special education teacher. “In my world, college was not an option because I needed to work to support my family,” said Johnson. “This program is set up so I am an online student and I can get the work done at home. The professors are available for any help that I have needed. The things that I am learning make sense, because I can use the knowledge in my job. I am so thankful for this life changing opportunity.” 

As of Fall 2024, the PaCT program will have upwards of 75 enrolled students. Upon successful completion of the degree and certification program, these paraprofessionals will be qualified to be hired as a certified teacher, thus filling much-needed positions within the districts.

Empowering Educators, Reinvesting in Communities

Current College of Education Interim Dean, Dr. Esther Ntuli, commends the leadership of Rodriguez and his staff, recognizing The Albion Center not only as a national leader in providing affordable, flexible, and relevant educational opportunities for educators, but also acknowledging the pivotal role The Albion Center plays in the College’s and the University’s growth and continued success. The various reinvestment initiatives have had a significant impact on students, faculty, staff, programs, facilities, and the community, which has offered a winning solution to providing opportunities for all in education.

“Reinvesting in education through scholarships for aspiring teachers, modernizing learning spaces to align with current technological advancements, and supporting faculty research and innovation is an investment in our future that our college will never regret,” said Dr. Ntuli. “I believe by eliminating financial barriers and creating more opportunities, we are empowering dedicated individuals to become outstanding educators, creating a brighter, more equitable world for generations to come.”