In Summer 2023, Marietta College’s Education Department plans to welcome its first 15 students into a teaching initiative that offers an affordable and timely option for recent college graduates and career-changers to pursue teaching licenses in high-need fields.
The Education Department is currently developing a list of interested students who wish to apply for competitive spots in this first cohort.
The College can offer this program after receiving a $200,000 grant awarded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Department of Education. The grant is through the Addressing Educator Shortages in Ohio Grant Program.
“Pending approval by the ODHE, we will not only start the program, but we will be able to award tuition vouchers that will cover tuition costs for a first cohort of 15 students,” said Dr. Tanya Judd, Education Department Chair. “This program is a wonderful opportunity for liberal arts graduates and career changers in Ohio and throughout the country to complete a post-baccalaureate teacher license program that is designed to be adult-friendly, accessible, affordable and quickly accomplished to ensure timely entry into identified teacher shortage positions.”
Judd said that the post-baccalaureate program in middle childhood education, special education, and adolescent young adult (grades 7-12) social studies, mathematics, English language arts, and the sciences will build on a college graduate's content knowledge by providing online, asynchronous courses and clinical experiences aligned with requirements for a teaching license.
While the grant support will allow the first cohort of 15 post-baccalaureate students to complete the program with tuition costs covered by the grant, tuition for succeeding candidates will be competitively based. Students will attend classes fully online and will benefit from a strong faculty mentor program that will involve regular conversations and check-ins with Marietta College faculty members.
The Marietta College Bridges to Teaching Initiative will create three pathways for prospective teachers with the goal of increasing the supply of fully licensed teachers for schools. Grant funds will enable Marietta College to:
- Develop a College Credit Plus Bridge to enhance the ongoing efforts to attract high school students to teacher preparation through college credit plus opportunities.
- Develop a 2+2 Bridge to reimagine the articulation work with community colleges, allowing for an affordable and timely 2+2 pathway to completion of a bachelor’s degree and teaching license
- Develop a Post-Baccalaureate Bridge to allow an affordable and timely option for recent college graduates and career-changers to pursue teaching licenses in high-need fields.
Judd said Bridges to Teaching will focus on the recruitment and retention of teacher candidates for Marietta’s dual primary/special education, middle childhood/special education, physical education/special education (pending), and adolescent young adult programs leading to licenses in English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and the sciences.
For more information about the MC Bridges to Teaching initiative, please contact Dr. Tanya Judd at tj002@marietta.edu or Dr. Amanda Rider at anr003@marietta.edu.