Full Menu
Human Resources and Development → Department of Certification and Continuing Education → Teacher Preparation (Higher Education Partnerships)
Announcement: The Office of Human Resources and Development continues to offer higher education partnership opportunities to MCPS employees who are seeking teacher certification, continuing professional development, or who are pursuing career advancement. Additionally, virtual information sessions will be offered beginning in September 2020. Please continue to review this webpage for current partnership opportunities and for details on how to register for virtual information sessions.
The Office of Human Resources and Development works with local universities to provide tuition reimbursement and additional support at the undergraduate and graduate levels for individuals seeking teacher certification, continuing professional development, or pursuing career advancement opportunities. Partnership programs focus on expanding the candidate pool with respect to applicants representing diverse backgrounds and systemic areas of critical need. These programs involve extensive MCPS field experiences, supplemental training, and supervisory support by colleges, universities, and MCPS.
Partnerships are one option for employees. Employees, in permanent positions, may also identify and pursue programs of study from accredited colleges and universities. Employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement to support some of the tuition cots. Details can be reviewed on the Tuition Reimbursement website.
The partnerships for teacher preparation target employees, in permanent positions, who want to pursue careers in teaching. These partnerships provide pathways for individuals to meet the requirements in the state of Maryland to earn initial teaching certification.
The partnerships for continuing education and graduate certificates target employees who hold current teaching certification and who want to continue their education by pursuing post-baccalaureate certificates and/or master's degrees in content areas other than their initial certification.
The partnerships for school leadership development target employees who are experienced, tenured teachers who want to pursue school-based leadership or supervisory positions within MCPS. These partnerships offer pathways to earn a master's degree or certificate leading to Administrator I (ADMIN I) certification in Maryland. To be eligible for partnerships in school leadership, individuals should have 5 or more consecutive years of successful classroom teaching experience and tenure.
Certification Area: variousEligibility: MCPS conditionally licensed teachers who are required to complete coursework for licensureLength of Study: Accelerated coursework offered weekly during Summer 2020Degree: N/A - coursework is eligible for graduate creditProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (BSU) Dr. Akeda Pearson-Stenbar, apearsonstenbar@bowiestate.eduDeadline: Closed for Summer 2020
Certification Area: special education Eligibility: Accepted students, pending budget approval, will be employed as special education paraeducators during the program of study and are eligible for tuition reimbursement Length of Study: 2 year program Degree: Master of Science Program Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (JHU) Dr. Laurie DeBettencourt, debetten@jhu.eduProgram Website: JHU SET-IT Deadline: April 2021 for Summer 2021 Cohort
Certification Area: secondary math, secondary science, chemistry, physics, technology education, computer science, Spanish, FrenchEligibility: Permanent, temporary, and non-employeesLength of Study: 6 month teaching institute and internship + 1 year resident teachingDegree: non degree--State of Maryland approved alternative certificationProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (MC) Debra Poese, debra.poese@montgomerycollege.eduProgram Website: MC ACETDeadline: Accepting applications
Certification Area: early childhood, elementary, special education, secondary math, secondary scienceEligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent statusLength of Study: Varies – approximately 60 credits or first two years or a 4 year degreeDegree: Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) – which transfer to any state of Maryland university and many private universitiesProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or Dr. Zeporia Smith, CREATETeacherCohort@montgomerycollege.eduProgram Website: MC CREATEDeadline: Accepting Applications
Certification Area: ESOL, secondary math, computer science, SpanishEligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent statusLength of Study: multiple yearsDegree: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees; alternative certification Program Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (NDMU-undergraduate) Jennifer Lampton (bachelor's degree or CAUS), jlampton@ndm.edu and Sheila Mahony (graduate or ACT), smahony@ndm.eduProgram Website: NDMUDeadline: Accepting applications
Certification Area: special educationEligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent statusLength of Study: 3 years – 1 course approximately every 8 weeksDegree: Master of Teaching (MAT)Program Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (TU) Eric Kuhn, epkuhn@towson.edu Program Website: TU MAT in SPED at USGDeadline: Fall 2020 Closed - Next Cohort Fall 2022
Certification Area: Elementary Education—general education grades 1-6--Cite candidates can choose a focus area of ESOL or special education preparing individuals meet the diverse needs of students; however, the initial certification is general education elementary.Eligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent statusLength of Study: 2.5 yearsProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (UMD) Theresa Robinson, tnebrob1@umd.edu and Carolina Napp-Avelli, cnapp@umd.eduProgram Website: UMD CITEDeadline: Accepting applications for Spring 2022 cohort
Certification Area:computer science, mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth space science, or physicsEligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent statusLength of Study: multi-year; 1-2 years in the MAT programProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (UMUC) Cheri Temoney, cheri.temoney@umgc.eduProgram Website: UMGCProgram Deadline: Accepting applications
Certification Area: TESOLEligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent statusLength of Study: 2.5 yearsProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (UMBC) Dr. Mary Tabaa, tabaa@umbc.edu Program Website: UMBC TESOLDeadline: Accepting applications
Certification: Successful program completers , who hold teacher certification and 27 months of successful classroom teaching experience, are eligible to seek MSDE Gifted and Talented Education Specialist Certification
Eligibility: MCPS employees who hold teacher certification and have a minimum of 27 months of teaching experience and a master's degree.Length of Study: 2 yearsCertification Area: graduate certificateProgram Requirements: bachelor’s degreeProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (MCPS/McDaniel) Heather Yuhaniek, Heather_E_Yuhaniak@mcpsmd.org Program Website: McDaniel Equity and Excellence in EducationDeadline: Beginning Spring 2021 accepting applications for Fall 2021
Eligibility: MCPS employees Length of Study: Four semesters--one course per semesterCertification Area: The program of study provides participants with the skills and methods to be effective and competent teachers of students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia and other related learning differences. Program Requirements: bachelor's degreeProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (NDM) Donna Schissler, dschissler@ndm.eduDeadline: Beginning Spring 2021 will accept applications for Summer 2021 cohort
Eligibility: teachers certified in content areas other than special educationLength of Study: 3 years – 1 course approximately every 8 weeksDegree: Master of EducationCertification Area: special educationProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (TU) Eric Kuhn, epkhun@towson.edu Program Website: Towson at USG MEd in Special EducationDeadline: Accepting applications for Fall 2021 cohort
Eligibility: certified elementary, middle, or special education, teachers Length of Study: 3 years Degree: Master of EducationCertification Area: add-on math endorsement for certified teachersProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (UMD) Beatriz Quintos, bquintos@umd.eduProgram Website: UMD MEd in Middle Grades MathematicsDeadline: Accepting applications
Eligibility: MCPS employees with 5 or more consecutive years of successful classroom teaching experience and tenure Length of Study: 3 years master’s degree; 2 years graduate certificateCertification Area: Administrator IProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (Hood College) Dan Shea, shea@hood.eduProgram Website: Hood College for Educational LeadershipDeadline: Accepting applications for Fall 2021
Eligibility: MCPS employees with 5 or more consecutive years of successful classroom teaching experience and tenure Length of Study: 3 years master’s degree; Administrator I CertificationCertification Area: Administrator IProgram Contacts: (MCPS) Sydney Pinkard, Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org or (McDaniel) Andrea Selivan, aselivan@mcdaniel.eduProgram Website: McDaniel CollegeDeadline: Beginning Spring 2021 will accept applications for Fall 2021 cohorts
Ms. Sydney Pinkard Sydney_K_Pinkard@mcpsmd.org
Montgomery County Public Schools45 West Gude Drive, Suite 2100Rockville, Maryland 20850
View full Calendar