A group of aspiring teachers took their first steps to getting certified as New Jersey educators last week at Gateway U’s Newark campus. 

The aspiring teachers currently work in area public schools as paraprofessionals or other support positions and aspire to become certified teachers, which would open new employment opportunities for them and support their economic mobility.

The teacher certification process in New Jersey is onerous and expensive, requiring candidates to pass multiple high-stakes exams costing hundreds of dollars out of pocket. Gateway U’s teacher pathway program was created to support candidates through the process to earn a Limited Certificate of Eligibility.

A pilot class of aspiring teachers started in the summer, and last week marked the kickoff of another group with 15 people who hope to fill teacher vacancies as soon as the next school year.

The one-year apprenticeship program starts with intensive Praxis prep and continues to support apprentices as they apply for certification, find an affordable Educator Preparation Program, and navigate their first year in the classroom. 

The Newark program is one of the first U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the state to address the teacher pipeline.

“We’re so excited about this inaugural class because we know that with the right supports, we can help get them over the finish line and fulfill their dreams of becoming teachers,” said Gateway U Executive Director Saymah Nah.

The supports include everything from one-on-one tutoring to prepare for the Praxis exams to finding childcare or getting connected with emergency rental assistance. The program prioritizes building a community and culture of camaraderie to overcome the barriers to teaching that disproportionately impact Black and brown aspiring teachers.
 
Program completion remains a major barrier to diversifying the profession. A report by the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State University calls out the striking completion gap between black and white teachers. A mere 7% of black aspiring teachers who took a teacher education course completed as compared to 30% of white students. 

While this data was specific to Michigan, we see the same trends in New Jersey. More than 60% of our state’s students are students of color, yet our teaching force remains over 80% white.

Gateway U partnered with the Teacher Apprenticeship Network to design and implement the program. 

“We are excited about the partnership with Gateway U because of their community-focused support for aspiring teachers,” said Kwame Floyd, founder of the Teacher Apprenticeship Network. 

“If we are going to meaningfully fill shortages with diverse talent, we need to look at community-based groups like Gateway U who provide the coaching and wraparound support needed to address the unique challenges faced by aspiring teachers of color,” Floyd said.

Many of the apprentices have been in teaching support roles for years without the support and tools needed to advance their careers. In some cases, salary almost doubles when moving from a paraprofessional position to a full-time teaching position. 

Research shows that teachers who began their careers as paraprofessionals are more likely to produce greater student learning gains, stay in the classroom longer, and better match the racial and linguistic diversity of the student population.

Some participants Gateway U have not yet served in a teaching capacity but have a demonstrated commitment to a school community.

“I have been thinking for years about teaching but never took the leap forward to begin the journey out of fear…as years went on I felt less and less capable of conquering the challenge,” said Gateway U apprentice and Newark Public School employee Swiyyah Fareed. “However, working in the school system for 20 years and being around children have helped to never let this feeling go away.”

The teacher pathway program is one of several programs Gateway U has to offer. The nonprofit organization also partners with Southern New Hampshire University to provide coaching and wraparound support services to students who enroll in SNHU’s competency-based bachelor’s and associate degree programs. 

While Gateway U can support anyone who wants to earn a degree, it recognizes the unique need for an affordable, flexible option for aspiring teachers.

“Our goal is to ensure that people from our own communities are getting access to degrees, jobs and ultimately socio-economic mobility,” said Nah.