Teaching is an admirable profession and good ones are always needed. At University College at Rockland, one can attain full teacher certification in the areas of birth to age 5, kindergarten through third grade, elementary, secondary, and special education.
Education students earn a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Maine at Augusta with a concentration in one of the education fields. The program includes a full semester of supervised student teaching in a local school.
According to URock’s director, Deborah Meehan, the education program is popular and of high quality. “It’s very rewarding to see our (education) students graduating and going off to good jobs in local schools,” Meehan said.
Meehan noted that often students think they need to leave the local area, or even the state, and pay high tuition bills to get fully certified as a teacher. “That’s a very unfortunate myth,” Meehan said. “I would hold up the quality of our education pathways against any competitive program.”
Interested students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and are considering teaching can return as post-baccalaureate students and take courses required by the Maine Department of Education for certification. The post-baccalaureate program qualifies for financial aid, as do the other pathways.
“We see many who are changing career paths and now want to pursue a teaching degree,” said Meehan. “We help them choose the best program to match their interests and the ages of the students they wish to teach.”
Local student Molly Kelley completed her degree this December. “I often thank my lucky stars for finding my way to the University of Maine at Augusta through URock,” Kelley said. “Lost and unsure after my first year of college out of state, I had no idea this would be the exact right fit for me. I feel incredibly fortunate.”
Kelley says she now has amazing opportunities, and teaching allows her to use the skills that she is most proud of to make a real difference.
For further information on the education pathways to teacher certification, contact University College at Rockland at 596-6906 for a free academic advising appointment.