Northern Michigan University has established a new partnership with Eastpointe Community Schools that will provide an online pathway for eligible ECS staff to obtain teacher certification in exchange for a three-year commitment to teach in the district upon completion of the program.
The ECS Board of Education recently approved funding to cover NMU tuition so that employees who already hold a bachelor's degree can obtain a secondary certificate in a core subject area. Paraprofessionals can pursue a bachelor's degree with a certification in learning disabilities.
Joe Lubig, associate dean of NMU's School of Education, Leadership and Public Service, attended the board meeting with the district's superintendent to explain the certification process and confirm NMU's commitment to the partnership.
“The Michigan Department of Education recommended NMU to Eastpointe,” Lubig said. “We are using our NMU Global Campus graduate program to meet this need. We believe the plan Eastpointe put in place will develop quality teachers and increase their retention of teachers in their district. I am so proud to be a part of this team. NMU is becoming the ‘go-to' institution in the state to solve unique problems like this, and the Michigan Department of Education has been a champion for our work.”
“This is an exciting opportunity to train and keep highly qualified educators in our classrooms,” said ECS Assistant Superintendent Christina Gibson in a press release. “This partnership with Northern Michigan will help us invest in staff members who are already committed to our Eastpointe community and care deeply about our children.”
Eastpointe Community Schools is located 16 miles northeast of Detroit. For more information on NMU education programs, visit nmu.edu/education.