Northern Michigan University is collaborating with Alpena Community College and Central Michigan University to create the Northeast Michigan Teacher Pipeline for aspiring educators. This partnership aims to address the regional teacher shortage by offering students an affordable, seamless, and locally rooted pathway to pursue a career in education.
Since the partnership was announced a year ago, Alpena Community College (ACC) has identified "2+" pathways with NMU and CMU for students interested in elementary education. These pathways allow students to complete their first two years at ACC before transferring to NMU or CMU to complete their bachelor's degrees. Teacher pathways for secondary education programs are in the early planning stages and will be worked on this coming year.
NMU has begun its partnership with colleagues at the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District (AMAESD), about 260 miles south of Marquette, and Alpena Community College (ACC) to create both high school and community college courses that allow students to transfer to NMU for a bachelor's degree.
“This partnership aligns with NMU's commitment to providing exceptional teacher education,” said Joe Lubig, NMU School of Education professor and associate dean. “If school employers know that there is a clear four-year pathway for someone to become a teacher, they can better plan for teaching needs, encourage people to become teachers, and set up quality mentoring plans for graduates of their own school districts to come back as certified educators in the communities they love.”
This year, the goals are to finalize a transfer agreement between ACC and NMU, have a transfer agreement and curriculum pathway outlined, and be able to test out and plan with students.
Superintendent of AMAESD and NMU alumnus Justin Gluesing drove the pipeline initiative after experiencing difficulty finding qualified educators in rural districts. To solve the shortage, short-term hiring was addressed, but Gluesing was focused on finding a long-term solution, which led to the idea for the pipeline.
"This collaboration strengthens the entire educational landscape in Northeast Michigan,” Gluesing said in a previous release. “Our corner of the state is isolated from our university partners, and this partnership will help build our local pool of professional educators to support our region for years to come."
"This partnership is a significant step toward addressing the teacher shortage in our region,” added Paige Gordier, vice president of instruction at ACC. “By providing clear and accessible pathways, we are empowering our students and ensuring that our local schools have the qualified educators they need."
In addition to the 2+ pathways, ACC, CMU, and NMU are committed to exploring further opportunities for collaboration within teacher education programs. This includes investigating virtual learning options, rural grant opportunities, and other creative means to support aspiring teachers in the region.
To view the full Michigan Teacher Shortage Study, visit here.