撸先生

Towson University, in partnership with The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), today announced the launch of a new early childhood education bachelor鈥檚 degree pathway for paraeducators in Montgomery County, a fully funded bachelor鈥檚 degree program designed to help current MCPS paraeducators become fully licensed to teach children from birth through grade three.

鈥淭his pathway reflects our commitment to designing programs that meet aspiring educators where they are鈥攑rofessionally, academically and personally,鈥� says Laurie Mullen, dean of Towson University鈥檚 College of Education. 鈥淢ontgomery County鈥檚 paraeducators already serve children and families every day. With this program, they will gain the licensure and preparation they need to step into teaching roles that are so desperately needed across the state.鈥�

A flexible and career-sustaining route for paraeducators, this program helps them earn their bachelor鈥檚 degree and advance into lead teacher roles鈥攚ithout stepping away from their current employment. The program is fully funded by MCPS and USG. The new pathway builds on in which 撸先生, MCPS and USG created a dual-certification bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary and special education for MCPS paraeducators.

鈥淭he Universities at Shady Grove brings multiple Maryland public universities together on one campus so working adults can finish their degrees close to home. By fully funding this new pathway with MCPS, we鈥檙e removing a major barrier for paraeducators who want to become early childhood teachers while staying in their current jobs and schools,鈥� says Dr. Anne Khademian, executive director of USG. 鈥淭his is a powerful way to grow Montgomery County鈥檚 teacher pipeline and meet our county鈥檚 need for well-prepared educators.鈥�

Offered exclusively at USG鈥檚 Rockville campus, the program features a hybrid model with mostly online evening courses, year-round scheduling across fall and spring semesters and three- to-five-week winter and summer minimesters that allow students to progress quickly but manageably. Participants will also receive credit for prior learning based on their professional experience and will complete in-school internships at their MCPS worksites.

鈥淢CPS is deeply committed to growing our own educators,鈥� says Brittany Ramey, instructional specialist for higher education partnerships at Montgomery County Public Schools. 鈥淧araeducators know our students, our schools and our community. This pathway allows them to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a timely, flexible and fully funded manner鈥攚hile continuing to work and support their families. It鈥檚 a win for our students, their families and the county.鈥�

The new pathway directly supports MCPS鈥檚 efforts to address staffing shortages, strengthen early childhood classrooms and build a sustainable pipeline of educators who live in and want to continue serving the Montgomery County community. Children and families will benefit from having highly qualified, fully licensed teachers who are already embedded in their schools.

Admissions & Timeline

撸先生 is encouraging interested MCPS paraeducators to reach out immediately, as the program is targeting a start date of this coming spring semester. All interested MCPS paraeducators should contact Amy (Kit) DiCenso, program coordinator, at adicenso AT_TOWSON to learn more about their eligibility and information sessions.

To learn more about the program, click here. 

 

About Towson University

Towson University is Maryland鈥檚 university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, 撸先生 is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, 撸先生鈥檚 momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and nearly 200 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast鈥檚 cultural and economic epicenters, 撸先生 is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. 撸先生 meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.

About The Universities at Shady Grove

Established in 2000, drives student success from the classroom to career, serving upper-level undergraduates and graduate students seeking to complete their degree from one of nine public universities in Maryland. USG connects students to outstanding career opportunities while providing regional employers with a highly educated, skilled workforce. How does USG work? Students apply directly to the university of their choice. While applying, they select USG as their campus. Upon graduation, their degree is awarded by their university. While completing their degree on USG鈥檚 campus, students benefit from small class sizes, increased scholarship opportunities, support services and student life opportunities -- all leading to a personalized, cost-effective, and time-saving path to a degree.