Puyallup School District establishes partnerships to certify teachers, fill shortage

A Washington state legislative report produced by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has warned school districts of a chronic teacher shortage, requiring 10,000 new certificated teachers over the next several years in grades K-3.

The report also shows that state universities will only graduate 1,500 teachers each year over the next three to five years.

Puyallup School District administrators are heeding the warning seriously and have now established three alternative pathways to certification and endorsements for para-educators, classified staff, substitute employees and others in the community with a passion to teach.

“We have a community that is invested in the schools, and it’s nice to pull them back in and help them to work in our schools and work with our kids,” said Ailene Baxter, a human resources director for the district. “It’s a win-win for everybody.”

The first of three pathways is the Alternative Route to Certification Block Grant program between the Puyallup School District, Pacific Lutheran University, regional district partners comprising Bethel, Clover Park and Franklin-Pierce, and the Puget Sound Educational Service District.

“(This program) targets the need for special education teachers,” Baxter explained. “If (candidates) hold a bachelor’s degree, they can apply.”

The program is financially supported by a $294,000 block grant issued by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board. The grant allows PLU and its district partners to support 21 candidates for a special education teacher certification per year over the next two years.

“(Candidates) qualify for up to $8,000 in tuition assistance, if they become special education endorsed,” Baxter said. “They must be willing to get the special education endorsement.”

The Block Grant pathway will be a yearlong intensive from June to June.

Candidates will attend classes on the PLU campus during an intensive summer program. Student teaching will start in the fall and 571 hours of student teaching experience is required of candidates to earn their certification.

“It’s a June to June program and is designed specifically to be done in a year,” said Frank Kline, dean of the school of education and kinesiology at PLU. “They will start with university-based coursework in the summer and in the fall they will start like they were a teacher employed by Puyallup. They will do (student teaching) plus they will be enrolled in seminars and a variety of small-group learning and support opportunities. We are working hard to provide a rich array of support to assist them in being successful in their work.”

The second pathway is an online module-based program catering to those working adults with a bachelor’s degree who seek a flexible and affordable option.

The module program is administered by the nonprofit Northwest Educational Development. The Puyallup School District is a foundational partner in the program.

“The people that get into education today are way different than they were 30 to 40 years ago,” said Jim Mickel, executive director of Northwest Educational Development. “Now, people get into it and do it for a couple years and see if they like it or not. You need new models that are more affordable and more concentrated.”

The module program will take anywhere from six to nine months to complete, Mickel said, with a cost less than $10,000.

Students will be able to take the modules at their own pace and pay as they go. Registration will be on a rolling start.

“If we have someone who is really interested to start in October, they can get started immediately,” Baxter said. “Since it’s a module and online, they can get through the modules as quickly as they want to. This one is really flexible for our working parents and current para-educators.”

Mickel said he hopes to launch the module program in August.

Finally, the third pathway is a partnership among Puyallup, Sumner and Clover Park school districts and Pierce College. This is a pathway for para-educators and those in the community who don’t hold a bachelor’s degree. Candidates who apply will be able to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science, leading to an endorsement in early childhood education and special education. Pierce College is awaiting approval from the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities, its regional accrediting body, before making the formal announcement of the program and accepting applications.

For those interested in the alternative pathways to certification, visit puyallup.k12.wa.us and click on Pathways to Teacher Certification in Puyallup under Human Resources or call Rhonda Knudson at 253-841-8783.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Puyallup School District establishes partnerships to certify teachers, fill shortage."