Mercy University to offer on-the-job bachelor's degree in
teaching students with disabilities with Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES signing on
as the first to bring the program to districts
DOBBS
FERRY, N.Y., Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mercy University and BloomBoard, a leading
talent development provider for K–12 school districts, today
announced an innovative new partnership to help address the teacher
shortage in New York. Together,
they'll support New York school
districts in providing an on-the-job delivery pathway for Mercy's
Bachelor of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities, B-12
program, to bring more highly qualified special education teachers
into New York classrooms. The
program removes traditional barriers to earning a bachelor's degree
in teaching, creating a more accessible pathway for aspiring
teachers. This is the first in a plan to deliver several on-the-job
programs to develop and advance New
York teachers.
"We are excited to partner with Mercy
University to provide a high quality, accessible education for
aspiring teachers while also helping New
York school districts solve a critical staffing challenge."
Sanford Kenyon, CEO of
BloomBoard
"By partnering with BloomBoard, Mercy University can create
innovative pathways for future educators and tackle the teacher
shortage," said Eric Martone, dean
of the School of Education at Mercy University. "This new learning
model for aspiring special education teachers provides on-the-job
accessibility so participants can earn their degree while they're
working in an actual classroom."
In New York, as in the rest of
the country, special education teaching candidates are in high
demand. According to a 2022 NCES study, 40% of U.S. public schools
struggled to fill open special education teaching positions. And in
2023, NYC Public Schools reported that the district faced a
critical shortage of special education teachers. This innovative
new bachelor's degree program offered by Mercy University aims to
help school districts sustainably grow a pool of highly-qualified
educators for these hard-to-fill positions.
"We are excited to partner with Mercy University to provide a
high quality, accessible education for aspiring teachers while also
helping New York school districts
solve a critical staffing challenge," said Sanford Kenyon, CEO of BloomBoard. "This new
partnership supports our mission to revolutionize educator
preparation and advancement pathways."
Candidates who have an associate degree and are currently
working in a school can enroll in the program as part of a cohort
sponsored by a school district. Candidates earning this bachelor's
degree and passing all required certification assessments are
eligible for New York's Students
with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate.
BloomBoard will support New
York school districts and BOCES in implementing Mercy
University's program within their own school systems. The company
will help identify funding sources and build program support for
effective delivery and student success. New York's Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB)
has signed on as the first BOCES to bring this innovative program
to its school districts.
"This program can go a long way towards solving an unmet need in
the state of New York," according
to Laurie LiPuma, Executive Director
of Human Resources at E2CCB. "School districts are looking for
teachers, and often the best candidates are already working there
in support roles. This program enables teaching assistants, aides,
and other qualified support staff who have faced barriers to
advancement to become great special ed teachers while they're
working alongside students and getting paid."
School districts interested in participating in this program in
the fall or beyond can learn more by contacting Michelle Licata of BloomBoard
(michelle.licata@bloomboard.com). Click here for more
information.
About Mercy University
Mercy University is an independent, coeducational institution
serving more than 9,000 students each year across campuses
in Westchester, the Bronx,
Manhattan, as well as online. It
is a federally designated minority-serving institution and the
largest private Hispanic Serving Institution in the state of
New York. Mercy offers more than
100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificate
programs within six schools: Business, Education, Health and
Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Social and Behavioral
Sciences. The institution also provides non-credit courses and
certificates for adult learners looking to acquire new skills
through CERTiFi by Mercy University. Mercy was founded in 1950 by
the Sisters of Mercy whose mission of transformative education
remains strong. For more information, visit
http://www.mercy.edu.
About BloomBoard
BloomBoard is a talent development provider that enables K-12
school districts to grow, advance and retain educators by making
professional education a benefit of employment. The company offers
turn-key programs for school districts to move educators forward at
all points of their professional journey. Their platform connects
districts to higher education institutions that offer certification
and degree programs using a unique, on-the-job instructional model.
Visit http://www.bloomboard.com to learn more.
Media Contact
BloomBoard, BloomBoard, 708-203-8727,
joshua.lahey@finnpartners.com, https://bloomboard.com/
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SOURCE BloomBoard