ESU Offers New Path to Teaching
Originally published 01:13 p.m., June 13, 2008
Updated 01:13 p.m., June 13, 2008
A new program being launched by The Teachers College at Emporia State University this summer offers career-change opportunities in the fields of education, school counseling and library media specialist.
The Alternate Route/Restricted License Program is intended to help counteract personnel shortages in Kansas school districts and make the process of earning secondary education teaching license easier for people now pursuing other careers.
“We’ve never done this on a statewide basis before in Kansas,” said Kirsten Limpert, the director of the alternative-licensing program.
To be considered for the program, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the area in which they will teach.
“For instance, for someone who wants to teach math, we’d be looking for a degree in mathematics,” said Limpert.
Kansas school are currently experiencing shortages of math and science teachers and school counselors.
Students enrolled in the program work as paid teaching interns while they earn their teaching certificates, a process that requires between one and three years to complete.
A group will begin course work on June 30 with orientation on campus. The first online course work will begin July 1 and end July 31. The nine hours of course work will include topics related to principles of learning and teaching, addressing needs of exceptional children and classroom management.
During a yearlong internship, each candidate will be provided with mentors and will attend seminars that result in an additional 12 semester hours of credit.
“All the course work is delivered online, so the students choose the time and place that’s most convenient for them to complete it,” said Limpert.
sciguy (anonymous) says...
If Emporia had been as forward thinking as Fort Hays, Wichita, Pittsburg, Baker, or KU, they could have been providing this alternative path to teaching for years.
Glad to see they're finally on board. They have some catching up to do, as the other schools have good established alternative licensure programs.
June 14, 2008 at 1:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
siamesefred (anonymous) says...
I recall asking ESU what it would take to get my teaching certification. I'd graduated from another Regents university with a bachelor's degree within the past 5 years. I was told I'd have to repeat all my gen ed classes and basically start from scratch at ESU. No thank you!
Glad to see that wouldn't be the case today.
June 14, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )