Learning
THe unIversITY of
norTH Texas
In denTon HosTs a weeklong,
all-expenses-paId fuTure bIlIngual
Teacher Certification
TeacHers academY eacH summer for
Fulbright Scholarship, for
The teacher certification process is complex, example, is an international
involving a number of different regulations
new HIgH scHool graduaTes
exchange program that gives
and entities. After completing university
InTeresTed In becomIng
grants to students to participate
coursework, students must also pass a
bIlIngual educaTIon TeacHers.
in educational activities—mainly
certification exam. university lecturing, advanced
“Students should check early in the research, graduate study, and
process with advisors and professors Education requirements for corporate teaching in elementary and secondary
to find out all the steps,” says Marilyn trainers are less stringent, though you schools—in other countries.
Wragg, curriculum director at Texas Tech still must be able to convince companies Whatever route a student chooses in
University. “It is important to follow that you truly are an expert in the field career preparation, says Karen Kallas, it
a certification checklist and work closely you are teaching. doesn’t pay to cut corners. “In all that I did,
with advisors.” I thought about what would best help me
Because demand for teachers is so high, graduate studies reach the goals I had set,” she says. “I found
there are many incentives and programs to Colleges require their professors to have an that taking the quickest or easiest route was
encourage students to go into education. advanced degree such as a master’s degree not always the best option.”
Some programs pay your full college or doctorate.
tuition if you teach a minimum number of “A doctorate benefits those who intend
years (usually three to five) and work in to teach in the collegiate environment or
communities and fields experiencing a those who wish to obtain credentials for
shortage of educators. a specialized, paraprofessional position,” get the creDit
Belcher says, “such as school counselor,
you Deserve
Continuing Education librarian, or superintendent.”
The certification process does not “If you want to teach in higher education,
end with certification. After you almost always need a doctoral degree,” T
ech prep in Texas is a great way to earn
college credits toward a technical career
students become certified says Ruth Struthers, the head of the while you’re still in high school. Tech prep
teachers, they must education department at the University of programs center on “articulation agreements,”
complete at least 150 St. Thomas in Houston. contracts between the student, his or her high
hours of continuing Jennifer Bergman, who is in her second school, and community colleges the student
professional education year of law school at the South Texas College would like to attend. The agreement includes
every five years. of Law in Houston, says she wants to recommendations for courses to be completed
“Teacher become a professor of either political science before graduation and outlines a two-year
certifications must or law. degree or certificate program.
be renewed every five “Going to graduate school was never selected courses in a Tech prep plan cover
years,” says Wragg. really on my mind until later in my college the same material as the equivalent college
“Renewal activities career,” Bergman says. “I always enjoyed course, allowing the student to receive what
could include attending history and law, but I also enjoyed my is called advanced technical credit toward the
professional development teaching experiences throughout my life, college degree. It’s like a bank account. The
conferences, site-based so I plan to use my law degree to pursue a credit is banked for you at the college, and you
training and development career in education.” withdraw it when you enroll.
activities, independent for more information on Tech prep, visit
study, or attending additional beyond College www.techpreptexas.org. ask your counselor
college classes in the teacher’s Educational opportunities for teachers about advanced placement, dual credit, or
related field.” and trainers extend beyond college. The articulated courses and other opportunities to
earn college credit.
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