Exciting NOVA Teacher Education Program Updates

Dr. Jimmie McClellan, dean of education and social science pathways; Ashley Wilkins, teacher education program head and teacher education faculty have successfully developed partnerships with public schools in the area to address the region’s critical teacher shortage. As a part of a massive effort to broaden access to the teacher pipeline, the Teacher Education program has made noticeable progress in the following areas:

• Received Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) approval to have additional Teacher Education courses recognized to satisfy some professional studies coursework for teacher licensure. Click here to view the VDOE licensure update announcement.  
• Developed the Teaching Professional Career Studies Certificate: Designed to target provisionally licensed teachers and instructional assistants to help satisfy professional studies courses that meet some of VDOE’s teacher licensure requirements. Available fall 2023.
• Partnered with Fairfax County Public Schools and Falls Church City Schools to provide training to 48 instructional assistants for spring 2023 semester. In fall 2023, to serve area schools, the teacher education program is using a modified instructional model to increase accessibility and degree completion for adult learners.   
• Collaborated with Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University to create opportunities to expand a teacher residency program and apprenticeship.

The dedication of these educational leaders to creativity and fruitful cooperation with the area’s public schools and four-year universities has positioned NOVA as a strategic partner to help address the teacher shortage. Stay tuned for more updates.  

Submitted by:
Dr. Shawn Addison, AN-Counselor, SAddison@nvcc.edu