RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With the latest data from the Virginia Department of Education showing the commonwealth is short of more than 3,600 teachers, a year-old program designed to tackle that shortage is showing promise.
The program called iTeach is a newly approved pathway to teacher licensure. It’s billed as an online, affordable way for potential teachers to fast-track their journey to the classroom.
“What our program also does is it helps them earn a provisional license that allows to them to move to contract, become a practicing licensed teacher, while they continue to work on the requirement for a full license,” iTeach Virginia Program Director Laura Estes told 8News.
iTeach said more than 950 people are currently enrolled in the program, with 450 of those people currently teaching in classrooms while working towards getting their full teacher license.
“We are able to look at someone who has a degree in an area other than education and bridge them over to the provisional license using iTeach, whereas that can be a lot more difficult without the alternative program in place,” Angela Gross, Human Resources Director for Essex County Public Schools said.
Mo Gaffney, iTeach’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, added that the program is also helping those already working within the school system make the jump to a classroom of their own.
“We’ve also seen a large response from schools who already have their long-term subs or paraprofessionals or aids who wanted to be teachers, but were not willing to go back to a program that was going to be super expensive, and take all the time, and not be as flexible,” Gaffney said.
iTeach said there are more than 1,300 people currently working through the application process as well.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With the latest data from the Virginia Department of Education showing the commonwealth is short of more than 3,600 teachers, a year-old program designed to tackle that shortage is showing promise.
The program called iTeach is a newly approved pathway to teacher licensure. It’s billed as an online, affordable way for potential teachers to fast-track their journey to the classroom.
“What our program also does is it helps them earn a provisional license that allows to them to move to contract, become a practicing licensed teacher, while they continue to work on the requirement for a full license,” iTeach Virginia Program Director Laura Estes told 8News.
iTeach said more than 950 people are currently enrolled in the program, with 450 of those people currently teaching in classrooms while working towards getting their full teacher license.
“We are able to look at someone who has a degree in an area other than education and bridge them over to the provisional license using iTeach, whereas that can be a lot more difficult without the alternative program in place,” Angela Gross, Human Resources Director for Essex County Public Schools said.
Mo Gaffney, iTeach’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, added that the program is also helping those already working within the school system make the jump to a classroom of their own.
“We’ve also seen a large response from schools who already have their long-term subs or paraprofessionals or aids who wanted to be teachers, but were not willing to go back to a program that was going to be super expensive, and take all the time, and not be as flexible,” Gaffney said.
iTeach said there are more than 1,300 people currently working through the application process as well.