Do More In ’24!: Upcoming Higher Ed Partnership Info Sessions

The Office of Human Resources and Development provides higher education partnership opportunities to MCPS employees who are seeking teacher certification or licensure, continuing professional development, or who are pursuing career advancement. Register on Professional Development Online. Below, get more information on upcoming interest meetings:

Bowie State University Reading/Literacy Master’s Program
Thursday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, Feb. 22; 4:30–5:30 p.m. 
RSVP on PDO, course #91696

This online graduate program in reading/literacy education from Bowie State University leads to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree. The program prepares graduate candidates on all aspects of literacy instruction and to complete leadership experiences that prepare for transitioning into the role of a reading specialist.

Classroom teachers who are not interested in a specialist leadership position may also consider the program in order to gain current research-based information to assist with effective literacy instruction with a focus on racially, culturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse students. 

The program is guided by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the International Literacy Association (ILA), Maryland Cultural Proficiency and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. 

For more information, contact Dr. Jacquelyn Sweeney or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website. A flyer is available here.

Montgomery College Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET)
Monday, Feb. 5; 5-6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87653

MCPS and Montgomery College (MC) are offering the Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET) program. ACET is a teacher preparation program for those wish to change careers and become MCPS teachers. For eligible employees with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree who are seeking teacher certification, MC 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 course work, experience and qualifying assessment scores. For more information, contact Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Moreland University, TEACH-NOW
Tuesday, Feb. 6 and Tuesday, Feb. 20; 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, participants will:

• Learn about the program – schedule, learning goals and requirements.
• Complete the application. 
• Learn about the licensing 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. 

University of Maryland (UMD), Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE) 
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87596

Have you considered becoming an elementary teacher in MCPS? The University of Maryland Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (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.

McDaniel College, Educational Leadership Program
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 5-6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87534

MCPS, in partnership with McDaniel College, will host an information session for its Administrator I Certification and master’s degree programs. To be eligible for the leadership partnership program, individuals must have three or more years of successful classroom teaching experience and be tenured in MCPS. A flyer for this session is available here. 

For more information, contact Susan Flanders or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Montgomery College Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE)
Thursday, Feb. 8; 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #89298

The Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE) Teacher Cohort Program, offered by Montgomery College (MC), will host an information session from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, on Zoom.

To be eligible, 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. MC will assist employees who are new to college, or who have some college credits, in developing 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. 

“How To Become A Teacher in MCPS” Information Session
Monday, Feb. 12, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87524

Join us to learn how to become a certified teacher in MCPS! Participants will examine the commitment MCPS has for support professionals who want to become teachers, understand the Maryland State Department of Education certification process, explore the various degree pathways for teacher certification and learn about the specific MCPS offices and departments that collaborate for employees pursuing careers in teaching. Click here for additional information. For questions, email Heather Harman or Brittany Mackel.

McDaniel College, Equity and Excellence in Education
Thursday, Feb. 15 and Wednesday, Feb. 21, 4-5 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87092

MCPS, MCEA and McDaniel College are offering a graduate certificate program on Equity and Excellence in Education. The Equity and Excellence in Education Certificate Program supports the MCPS Strategic Planning Framework: Academic Excellence, Creative Problem Solving, and Social Emotional Learning. The program is designed to provide educators of all types with skills and perspectives on the challenging work of becoming culturally responsive practitioners and leaders.

For more information, contact program coordinator Heather Yuhaniak or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Towson University Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87656

This master’s program offered by Towson University is designed for employees who are already certified to teach in a content area, and who are seeking an additional teaching certification in special education. Students may enroll in one of three tracks:

• Special Education—Early Childhood Education (Birth-grade 3)
• Special Education—Elementary/Middle Education (Grades 1-8)
• Special Education—Secondary Education (Grades 9-12)

The M.Ed. in Special Education is a cohort program that follows a specific course sequence and timeframe for completion. For more information, contact Eric Kuhn or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.