Initiative will address teacher shortages in high-need urban districts

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) has announced that William Paterson University has been awarded over $3 million in federal grant funding through the Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching program. The grant will help address critical teacher shortages in high-need northern New Jersey school districts through use of an alternate route teacher certification program. Federal funding will be made available over a five-year period.

“I applaud William Paterson University distinguishing its commitment to underserved students and being one of the only schools in the entire country selected to receive this grant funding,” stated Pascrell. “This innovative program will help William Paterson reach beyond its traditional student body to expand and improve the presence of quality teachers in our most underserved areas.”

“As a public university with a long history of preparing teachers, we are committed to helping to address critical teacher shortages in high-need New Jersey school districts,” says Ana Maria Schuhmann, dean of the William Paterson University College of Education. “Through this grant, we will be able to provide a technologically focused alternate route certification program that will offer career changers the opportunity to prepare as highly qualified teachers for urban school districts with great need.”

The University will invest the funding in its proposed New Vistas Teacher Project, an alternate route teacher certification program that is designed to recruit, prepare and certify college graduates and mid-career professionals. The New Vistas Teacher Project’s goal is to certify 220 new teachers in the fields of special education, English as a second language, bilingual language arts, mathematics and science.

New Vistas will collaborate with Kean University and school districts in East Orange, Elizabeth and Paterson with the possibility of adding one more school district to the program. Each of these four high-need urban districts has a critical teacher shortage. Combined they enroll 67,000 students, of whom 75 percent live in poverty.

“I am pleased that the Department of Education recognizes the value of William Paterson’s proposal. The Department’s commitment to working with William Paterson will increase the number of quality teachers in our underserved urban areas and help thousands of students reach a higher level of academic achievement,” stated Pascrell.

“Some of the best teachers enter the field after years in other professions,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “This program will help more people who want to make that transition, and it helps connect schools with the greatest need with those new teachers.’

William Paterson was one of only 14 school districts, school systems, and universities in the country selected to receive this grant funding and the only university in the State of New Jersey.

Those interested in information on the New Vistas Teacher Project can call the William Paterson University College of Education at 973-720-2137.