CSUF Doctoral Candidate Appointed to State Accreditation Commission

Work Focuses on Producing Quality Teachers for California Schools

August 20, 2007

By Debra Cano Ramos

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has appointed Nancy Watkins, a Cal State Fullerton doctoral candidate and social science high school teacher, to serve on its Committee on Accreditation.
Watkins was appointed to a four-year term in June and attended her first committee meeting Aug. 7-8 in Sacramento. The next meeting is Oct. 24.

With 20 years of classroom experience, Watkins is working on an Ed.D. in educational administration and leadership through a joint program between Cal State Fullerton and UCI.

“It is a great honor for CSUF to have one of our doctoral students appointed to this prestigious statewide panel that reviews and approves credential programs at universities across the state,” said Louise Adler, chair and professor of educational leadership.

The committee is charged with deciding the initial and continuing accreditation of educator preparation programs. Watkins will be involved in evaluating accreditation reports on teacher education programs throughout the state.

“It’s an honor and it’s also very important work because were creating the framework and guidelines for teacher education programs. We’re helping to insure that there are quality teachers for California’s schools,” Watkins said.

Accreditation is the approval process that all educator preparation
programs undergo to license educators in California, according to the commission. The accreditation system focuses on demonstrated competence of California’s educators. The Committee on Accreditation can determine at any point if program intervention or assistance is needed. The accreditation system’s success is measured by the continuing viability of programs that produce effective educators for California’s students.

Watkins teaches government and philosophy and is coordinator of the community service program at Valencia High School in Placentia. The Yorba Linda resident also is the coordinator of the school’s community service program. In 1995, she was recognized as teacher of the year by Valencia High School and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

For her doctoral dissertation, Watkins is examining the impact K-12 teachers have on the educational policy-making process. She plans to earn her doctorate in education in May 2008.