Do More in ’24; Sign Up for a Higher Ed Partnership Interest Meeting

Higher education partnerships offer opportunities to MCPS employees seeking teacher certification or licensure, continuing professional development, or who are pursuing career advancement. Register on Professional Development Online (PDO). Below, get more information on upcoming interest meetings:

Notre Dame of Maryland University
Thursday, April 18, 6-7 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87163

Notre Dame of Maryland University will host an information session to review their course offerings. While they will give an overview of all of their programs in the Department of Education, the bachelor’s degree pathway for certification in ESOL or special education and the graduate-level pathway (a non-degree, graduate-level, state-approved teacher education program leading to initial certification in ESOL, special education, math, computer science or Spanish) are the two MCPS partnership programs at NDMU.

For more information, contact Sarah Gruen or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Montgomery College Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET)
Thursday, April 18; 7-8 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87653

ACET is an innovative teacher preparation program for those who wish to change careers and become teachers in MCPS teaching. For eligible employees with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree who are seeking teacher certification, Montgomery College offers the ACET program in the following critical need areas:

• Secondary: Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Technology Education and English
• Middle School: Mathematics and Science
• World Languages: French and Spanish (placement in middle and high schools, with PreK-12 certification)

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75, expertise in the selected teaching field as supported by coursework, experience and qualifying assessment scores. For more information, contact Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Moreland TEACH-NOW
Tuesday, April 23; 5-6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #91498

Moreland University's TEACH-NOW certification program helps conditionally certified teachers earn their teaching licensure. This is an asynchronous online program that provides a flexible, affordable and accelerated pathway to certification.

During this information session:

• Learn about the program – schedule, learning goals and requirements.
• Complete the application. 
• Learn about the license process.
• Meet the Moreland team and an MCPS graduate of the program. 

For more information, contact Marjorie Guadarrama or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website. 

Johns Hopkins University, Special Education Teacher Immersion Training (SET-IT) Program
Wednesday, April 24, 5–6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87107

The JHU SET-IT (Special Education Teacher Immersion Training) master’s degree program has two focus areas: elementary/middle school (grades 1–8) and secondary/adult levels (grades 6–12) in special education. For this two-year program, participants will work for MCPS as special education paraeducators during the day and take JHU courses in the evening. A flyer for this information session is available here.

For more information, contact Alexandra Shelton or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

University of Maryland, Master’s of Education in Mathematics Education
Monday, April 29; 5:30–6:30 p.m. 
RSVP on PDO, course #91659

The University of Maryland, College Park is offering a continuing education opportunity for MCPS teachers already certified in elementary education, special education or ESOL—a master’s degree in mathematics for middle grades. These teachers should be teaching or planning to teach in 4th through 9th grade classrooms.

This is a 30-credit, three-year master’s degree program that prepares teachers to become highly qualified in middle grades mathematics. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. All courses are offered at The Universities in Shady Grove. Classes are offered weekly during the school year and twice during the early summer. Tuition is fixed for in-state and out-of-state teachers at the same rate. No GRE is required. 

A flyer for the program is available here. For more information, visit the Center for Mathematics Education’s website, watch the program’s Prezi, or contact Dr. Beatriz Quintos.

University of Maryland (UMD) Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE) 
Wednesday, May 1, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87596

Have you considered becoming an elementary teacher in MCPS? The UMD CITE program prepares participants to become general education teachers in grades 1-6. This program is well matched to individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and want to earn a master’s degree and certification in elementary education. Participants work as paraeducators during the program. CITE students begin internship experiences throughout the six-semester program and must be willing to work at least two hours a day in the general education elementary classroom with an MCPS mentor teacher. 

For more information, email Theresa Robinson or Carolina Napp-Avelli, or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Montgomery College, Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE)
Thursday, May 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #89298

To be eligible for the CREATE program, employees should be current MCPS support professionals who hold permanent positions. Members of the cohort earn an associate of arts in teaching degree (AAT), the first two years of the required four-year degree. Montgomery College will help employees who are new to college, or who have some college credits, to develop an academic plan that allows students to graduate in two to three years and seamlessly transfer to partner universities to complete the bachelor’s degree required to become a certified teacher.

For more information, email CREATEteachercohort@montgomerycollege.edu or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.