Career Changers Wanted!

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Karen Peterson and Pam Guimond are both co-directors of GSU's Teacher Quality Partnership program. (Photo Courtesy of Governors State University)
Karen Peterson and Pam Guimond are both co-directors of GSU's Teacher Quality Partnership program. (Photo Courtesy of Governors State University)

Governors State University (GSU) is seeking college graduates who want to teach.

Through its Alternative Teacher Certification (ATC) program, the university prepares individuals for careers as educators in the South suburban area.

ATC is a rigorous 17 month teacher preparation program. After five months of classroom instruction, participants transition into a one year classroom residency.

The residency consists of co-teaching with a certified teacher and should not be confused with student teaching. Karen Peterson, a TQP grant co-director said the residency has a more rigorous structure than student teaching and provides students with the ability to benefit from having two teachers in the classroom simultaneously.

ATC also has a new program incentive. Last year, GSU received a $7.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create the Chicago Southland Region Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP).

TQP provides ATC participants with a unique opportunity to earn a $30,000 stipend while co-teaching with a certified teacher during their residency.

Previously, ATC residencies were unpaid. But now with the TQP grant in place, participants are able to earn a salary while gaining certification and teaching experience.

The program is open to college graduates with five years post baccalaureate work experience.

Peterson said ATC alumni include people from a myriad of professions including attorneys and social workers.

ATC began more than 12 years ago and has over 300 participants who are successful educators in the South suburbs and Chicago.

ATC alumni are placed in high needs communities such as Calumet Park, Posen, Robbins, Harvey and Chicago Heights. As part of the program, participants make a commitment to work in schools in these areas for at least three years.

On Oct. 4 at 7:00 pm, GSU will host a session providing more insight on the process for earning an elementary or middle school certification and securing a teaching position through ATC.

The application deadline for the spring 2012 cohort is Dec. 15.

For more information, call (708) 534-4399 or log on to www.govst.edu/altcert

by Thelma Sardin

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