Alexandria schools to hire GWU students as part of program to recruit, retain teachers
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — School districts across the country have been addressing the teacher shortage in different ways, from raising salaries to other incentives like tuition assistance.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is starting a new pilot program this year aimed at recruiting and retaining more special education teachers.
The two-year program includes some tuition assistance and specifically addresses concerns about lack of support and mentorship.
“They will be in a classroom with a highly qualified special education teacher,” explained ACPS Director of Recruitment and Retention Margaret Browne. “So they're working alongside a teacher who, again, knows all about the craft. So not only are they getting the mentorship opportunities and professional development, but they're seeing teachers in action every day of their job."
The new special education residency program has two parts -- taking classes at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and working as an instructional assistant at Alexandria City Public Schools. Applicants will have to apply to both.
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“I'm very excited about the opportunity to bring in students so that we can work and learn and grow together,” said Terry Werner, the Executive Director of Specialized Instruction at ACPS. “So that they can help with the outcomes for students with disabilities, as well as to develop and hone their own skill so that they become master teachers down the road.”
The two-year program gives these future special education teachers both that education and real-life experience while also including at least a year of mentorship.
“This is a challenging job,” explained Browne. “This is a way that they can gain that training, development and support which will directly correlate to higher retention rates. So if people feel like they have the tools and the support they need to be a teacher, then they're more likely to remain a teacher, and then that means fewer vacancies we have to fill down the road.”
Applications open at the end of February.
“There are a lot of things that are different and unique about teaching students with disabilities,” said Werner. “Through their educational programming, they're going to get the coursework, the theoretical application, as well as the real-life application in the classroom and see it from a hands-on perspective, working both with master teachers and with students themselves.”
Click here for details on the ACPS partnership with GWU and where to apply.
