Our Research and Policy Fellow, Shannon Watkins, in collaboration with staff at the Wyoming Family Alliance, authored an opinion piece titled 5 Ways Wyoming Can Reform Teacher Education. The article argues that meaningful reform in Wyoming’s education system should begin at the University of Wyoming’s College of Education, where the foundation for preparing the state’s future teachers is built. By strengthening teacher training, Wyoming can better equip educators to raise literacy rates, improve student outcomes, and reduce reliance on bureaucratic mandates. Watkins and her co-authors outline practical steps that would ensure Wyoming’s teachers are well-prepared, academically strong, and focused on student success rather than ideology.
Here are the five key reforms they recommend:
- Return to the Basics: Reinforce phonemic awareness and phonics instruction to improve literacy.
- Strengthen Core Content Knowledge: Ensure teacher candidates are well-grounded in history, economics, science, and other core subjects.
- Depoliticize Teacher Preparation: Refocus programs on academic fundamentals instead of ideological trends.
- Expand Teacher Pathways: Create alternative certification routes to attract more qualified educators, especially in rural areas.
- Strengthen Accountability: Hold the University of Wyoming’s College of Education to higher standards with rigorous oversight.
If you would like to learn more about these proposals to reform teacher education in the Cowboy State, click HERE .