Invest In Yourself!: Join a Higher Ed Information Session

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. 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.

Moreland University, TEACH-NOW
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. 

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

McDaniel College is offering a graduate certificate program on Equity and Excellence in Education, which supports the MCPS Strategic Planning Framework: Academic Excellence, Creative Problem Solving and Social-Emotional Learning. The program provides educators with the skills and perspectives to become 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 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.

Hood College, Educational Leadership Program
Tuesday, Feb. 27; 5-6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87670

Hood College offers graduate certificate and master’s degree pathways for Educational Leadership leading to Administrator I certification. To be eligible, employees should have three or more consecutive years of successful classroom teaching experience and tenure. More information is available here.

For more information, contact Dan Shea or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.

Johns Hopkins University Special Education Teacher Immersion Training (SET-IT) Program
Thursday, Feb. 29, 5–6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87107

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Special Education Teacher Immersion Training (SET-IT) master’s 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 is available here.

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