Universal Charter Schools are now seeing the fruits of labor from its Aspiring Teachers Program, which is a partnership with La Salle University that develops and prepares paraprofessionals to become certified teachers.
The program offers aspiring teachers the opportunity to earn elementary or secondary education teaching certification while also offering up to 75 percent tuition reimbursement and a $5,000 stipend for materials and fees. Additionally, student participants can continue their education, earning a master’s degree in education.
“With the ever-growing teacher shortage nationally and research predicting vacancy rates of 55,000 certified teachers and counting, the Aspiring Teachers certification program is one effort to prepare individuals desiring to be educators with the tools, experiences and confidence to teach in a 21st-century, post-COVID world,” said Penny Nixon, CEO/Superintendent of Universal Charter Schools. “Universal is grateful for the support and funding from Philadelphia Works to support The Universal Aspiring Teachers Program.”
Fourteen paraprofessionals from the five Universal Charter Schools began the program in the summer of 2022. So far, seven have already completed the 24-month self-paced program. They are now preparing to take, and hopefully pass, the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Test to become fully certified teachers.
Marissa Rivers was the first Universal aspiring teacher to cross the finish line by completing the program and passing her PECT Test.
“The Aspiring Teachers Program was a great program,” Rivers said. “Working in the classroom helped a lot. I could immediately apply what I learned from the program in my classroom, and I saw the outcomes.”
She will enter the 2024-2025 school year as a fully certified elementary school teacher at Universal Alcorn Charter School in the Grays Ferry neighborhood of South Philly.
“At first, I was not comfortable,” Rivers said. “Yet, I realized that it was perfect timing. After I had my son, I started, but financially, I could not do it. This program opened the door for the opportunity to go back to school and get my certification. Taking all that I learned and giving my all to my scholars with great confidence, I will be able to make a mark as Ms. Rivers, the certified classroom teacher.”
Universal hopes this is just the start. It anticipates several more of its inspiring teachers will be fully certified by the start of the 2024-25 school year.
“We are thrilled to partner with Universal to offer this opportunity to paraprofessionals,” said Kimberly Lewinski, Director of Graduate Education at La Salle University. “We are proud of Marissa and all the members of the Aspiring Teachers Program. The drive and enthusiasm shown by the paraprofessionals throughout the program have been inspiring to us all. We appreciate the experience they brought from working in the classroom; their unique perspectives have significantly enhanced our program.”
