Program speeds up teacher certification

A new one-year program is helping get more teachers into classrooms at a faster rate. This alternative route to teacher certification is offered through the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program at Southwest Missouri State University, sponsored by a major federal grant, according to an SMSU press release.

The intensive program allows would-be teachers to enter their own classrooms in the fall of 2001 with either full or temporary teacher certification.

"It depends upon how many hours a person needs in his or her subject area whether full certification is granted by the state," Dr. Toni Briegel, grant project director, said in the release. "If temporary certification is earned, the teacher has two years to complete required course work while continuing to teach."

The program is designed to bring nontraditional people into the field of teaching.

The Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program will offer loans and other programs offering financial support are available through the state and federal governments.

"We hope to attract people making career moves or who have recently retired and are looking for a way to give something back to the community. Our main goal is to place quality teachers in high-need teaching fields in low socio-economic rural schools," Briegel said.