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. Below, get more information on interest meetings for several programs.
Bowie State University, Reading/Literacy Master’s Program
Tuesday, April 11; 4:30–5:30 p.m.
RSVP on Professional Development Online (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 is designed to prepare graduate candidates to focus 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 to gain current research-based information to assist with effective literacy instruction with a focus on racially, culturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse students.
For more information, contact Dr. Jacquelyn Sweeney or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website. A flyer for this information session may be found here.
Moreland University, TEACH-NOW
April 11 and April 18 (Tuesdays); 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 TEACH NOW program—schedule, learning goals and requirements.
- Take the steps to complete the application.
- Learn about the license process.
- Meet the Moreland team and an MCPS graduate of the program.
A flyer about Moreland’s information sessions can be found here. For more information, contact Dr. Susanne Thompson (Moreland University) or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
Montgomery College, Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE)
Wednesday, April 12; 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #89298
The Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE) Teacher Cohort Program is offered by Montgomery College (MC). 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 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.
University of Maryland (UMD), Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)
Thursday, April 13, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87596
Have you considered becoming an elementary teacher in MCPS? The University of Maryland (UMD) Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE) program prepares participants to become general education teachers in grades 1-6. This program is well matched to individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and want to earn a master’s degree and certification in elementary education. Participants work as paraeducators during the program. CITE students begin internship experiences throughout the six-semester program and must be willing to work at least two hours a day in the general education elementary classroom with an MCPS mentor teacher.
For more information, email Theresa Robinson or Carolina Napp-Avelli or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
University of Maryland, Masters of Education in Mathematics Education
Tuesday, April 18, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #91659
The University of Maryland, College Park is offering a continuing education opportunity for MCPS teachers certified in elementary education, special education or ESOL—a master’s degree in mathematics for middle grades. These teachers should be teaching or planning to teach in 4th through 9th grade.
This is a 30-credit, three-year master’s degree program that prepares teachers to become highly qualified in middle grades mathematics. The next cohort will start in the fall of 2023. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. All courses are offered at The Universities at Shady Grove. Classes are weekly during the school year and twice weekly during the early summer. In addition, the tuition is fixed for in-state and out-of-state teachers at the same rate. No GRE required. There are scholarships available only for those starting in the fall of 2023. For more information, visit the UMD Center for Mathematics Education website or see the program’s Prezi. You may also contact Dr. Beatriz Quintos.
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Wednesday, April 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87163
Notre Dame of Maryland University will host an information session to review course offerings. While they will give an overview of all of their programs in the Department of Education, the two MCPS partnerships are: the bachelor’s degree pathway for certification in ESOL or special education and the graduate-level pathway (a non-degree, graduate-level, state-approved teacher education program leading to initial certification in ESOL, special education, math, computer science or Spanish). A flyer for this and future information sessions is here. For more information, contact Sarah Gruen or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
McDaniel College, Educational Leadership Program
Wednesday, April 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87534
McDaniel College is hosting an information session for their Administrator I certification and master’s degree programs. To be eligible for the leadership partnership program, individuals must have three or more years of successful classroom teaching experience and be tenured in MCPS. For more information, contact Susan Flanders or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
Hood College, Educational Leadership Program
Thursday, April 20, 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. A flyer for this and future information sessions is here. For more information, contact Dan Shea or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
Towson University, Master of Teaching (MAT) in Special Education
Thursday, April 20, 5-6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #90585
The Towson University Master of Teaching (MAT) in Special Education is a program for employees who are seeking an initial teacher 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 MAT 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.
Montgomery College, Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET)
Monday, April 24; 4-5 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87653
MCPS and Montgomery College (MC) are offering the Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET) program. ACET is an innovative teacher preparation program for individuals who wish to change careers and become teachers in MCPS. For eligible employees with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree who are seeking teacher certification, MC offers the ACET program in the following critical need areas:
- Secondary: Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Technology Education and English
- Middle School: Mathematics and Science
- World Languages: French and Spanish (placement in middle and high schools, with PreK-12 certification)
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75, expertise in the selected teaching field as supported by course work, experience and qualifying assessment scores. For more information, contact Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
Bowie State University Weekend College and Summer Institute
Tuesday, April 25, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #91409
The Bowie State University Weekend College and Summer Institute are programs for teachers who hold conditional certification completing professional course requirements. Both programs are designed to support conditional licensed teachers with moving toward standard licensure by providing courses pertinent to their transcript audit. Interested applicants must have a current transcript analysis to determine eligibility. The Weekend College and Summer Institute are not full-degree programs and are best matched to teachers who have select courses required for certification. A flyer for the Summer Institute is here. For more information, contact Dr. Akeda Pearson or visit the Higher Education Partnerships website.
Towson University, Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
Thursday, April 27, 5-6 p.m.
RSVP on PDO, course #87656
This master’s program offered by Towson University is designed 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.
