Clarkson University has partnered with several educational institutions to create a pathway toward teacher certification for Schenectady City School District students as part of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program offered at its Capital Region Campus.
The Schenectady Grow Your Own Program (GYO) combines the efforts of the Schenectady City School District (SCSD), SUNY Schenectady, Cazenovia College, and Clarkson University. This program creates a pathway for Schenectady High School students and Schenectady community members to pursue three degrees, three teaching certifications, and a teaching position — all without having to leave Schenectady.
Schenectady High School students may begin taking associates-level courses while still in high school. Upon graduating from Schenectady High School, GYO candidates complete their associate’s degree at SUNY Schenectady while beginning to take education courses. Candidates then transition into Schenectady-based Cazenovia College’s inclusive early childhood education bachelor’s degree program. Once complete, candidates attend Clarkson for their Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
Upon graduation from Clarkson, candidates may receive job offers from Schenectady in elementary education, elementary special education or in teaching English as a second language (TESOL). Candidates who attend Clarkson will be supported by the Teacher Opportunity Corps grant as well as Clarkson matching funds and, if eligible, the Black Educators Initiative grant.
According to Education Department Chair Catherine Snyder, the program will help address two challenges: an overall teacher shortage in New York State and a lack of teachers from historically underrepresented groups.
“This program will have a positive impact on the community because it will result in increasing the number of teachers in the school, and increasing the number of teachers from historically underrepresented groups,” Snyder said. “It is not unusual, for example, for a Black student to graduate from Schenectady City Schools having never had a Black teacher. All students need to have teachers of color as part of their school experience.”
During the GYO process, candidates are supported jointly by the institutions with mentoring, networking events, career counseling, and professional learning. Schenectady City School District has pledged to provide the candidates with appropriate paid positions as substitute teachers, teaching assistants, or as teachers, after they are certified in the Cazenovia program.
“This multi-partner initiative took two years to develop, and we are excited to now have our agreement finalized with the signing of our joint memorandum of understanding,” Snyder said.
According to Snyder, two individuals currently in Clarkson’s MAT program were recruited as a result of early GYO information sessions, both of whom are also fellows in the Black Educators Initiative program and will graduate in June 2022 with MAT degrees in TESOL and Business.
“This program will, and already has, helped us fill the vital need for more teachers in our home city of Schenectady,” Snyder said. “It also provides a tremendous opportunity to Schenectady residents interested in teaching as a career.”
