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Becoming a Teacher
From Many Paths In Life
Persons teaching in urban schools reach that destination from many
paths. Some paths include:
- the traditional 4 or 5-year undergraduate study program in Education
- obtaining an undergraduate degree in a field other than Education,
then later in life pursuing a teaching certification
- substitute teaching (with a minimum of 60 college credit hours)
- holding an undergraduate (or higher level) college degree in
a field other than Education, but working as a teacher while pursuing
coursework toward certification
- working as a "provisionally licensed" teacher, with the opportunity
to teach with pay up to a certain number of years, by which time
a teacher certification should have been obtained
To become "certified" as a teacher requires many steps, one of
which requires approval from an accredited university or school
of education. In addition, teacher candidates must be able to demonstrate
proficiency in a number of basic standards, often through passing
the national "PRAXIS" exam for teacher candidates. A teacher
candidate's abilities are also determined through the Cbase exam.
Each school of education builds its teacher education program differently,
but recognizes any and all state regulations and statutes that are
required for graduating teacher candidates. It is important
for persons wishing to teach to recognize that states wish to uphold
standards of excellence so that children and youth can achieve;
a teacher's mastery of basics skills are one measure of potential
success, believing that society's youth deserve nothing less.
For more information about how persons can obtain teacher certification,
it is helpful to seek time from the teacher program admissions office
of the schools of education, and to "shop" around for programs that
will best meet one's needs. Financial assistance can make
obtaining a teaching certificate easier and more timely. Collegesī
financial aid offices can provide counsel on opportunities for financial
assistance and should be sought. The
Partnership office can also provide assistance.
Programs that Lead to Certification in Teaching
Contact any of the email addresses below to learn more about these
teacher certification programs. A link to the sponsoring institutionīs
webpage is also provided.
Career
Transition Certificate for Mid-career Professionals - Recruitment,
preparation, and support of mid-career professionals from the
private sector who hold degrees in math, science, technology,
music or art and want to become full-time teachers. Contact:
Dr. Gayle Wilkinson,
University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Special
Education Transition Project - Recruitment, preparation, and
support of certified teachers who want to become certified in
special education. Contact: Dr. Stephen
Viola, University of Missouri-St.
Louis.
Eastside Learning Institute - Professional
development school experiences for persons seeing secondary certification
trhough observation and interaction at East Saint Louis Senior
High School. Contact: William
Gallagher, Southern Illinois
University Edwardsville.
The
"Career Builder" Project - Recruitment,
preparation, and support of individuals who have sixty hours or
more of college work and the equivalent of one-year of full-time
teaching. Contact: Dr. Bill
Freeman, Fontbonne College.
"Pathways
II to Teaching Careers" - Recruitment, preparation, and
support of carefully selected teacher assistants in the St. Louis
Public Schools who want to be come full-time teachers. Contact:
Ms. Gwendolyn Beckwith,
Harris-Stowe State College.
Pre-collegiate Teaching Careers Projects
Career
Teaching Academy - Recruitment, preparation, and support of
high school students who want to become teachers through a four-year
"school within a school". This is a program of the
Metropolitan St. Louis Consortium for Educational Renewal/St.
Louis Public Schools. Contact: Dr. Mary
Ellen Finch, Executive Director of the Consortium; Maryville
University.
Apprentice
Teachers Program for African-American High School Students - Recruitment,
preparation, and support of high school students who want to become
teachers through school clubs, adult mentoring, tutoring experiences,
and training provided by area universities. This program is sponsored
by the Metropolitan St. Louis Alliance of Black School Educators.
Contact: Dr. Ivory
Johnson, MSLABSE.
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