LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is partnering with Bellarmine University to get more teachers in the classroom.
Up to 50 Bellarmine students enrolled in JCPS' Louisville Teacher Residency program will be able to complete their master's degree in teaching in just under a year. The program hopes to recruit and train more teachers, specifically teachers of color.
Students will need to have a bachelor's degree to enter the program, but their degree does not need to be in education.
Some applicants are expected to be degree holders looking to change careers, JCPS said.
If accepted into the program, students will received a reduced tuition rate, a $33,000 stipend and will be paired with a mentoring teacher from JCPS.
Officials said the accelerated program requires students to work four days a week with professors providing instruction in a hybrid model that has mostly online learning, with in-person classes no more than once a week. The program also offers students to add a credential in special education to their elementary, middle or high school teaching credential.
"This collaboration with Bellarmine will produce motivated, highly trained teachers who want a rewarding career impacting students and families in our community," Sylena Fishback, director of the Louisville Teacher Residency program, said. "Our community-wide certification pathway aims to increase the pipeline of quality candidates certified to teach in JCPS and increase teacher retention for some of our most valued school communities."
Once students have completed the program and receive their teaching certification, they will begin teaching at a JCPS Accelerated Improvement School or a school approved by the district.
According to JCPS officials, the school district has been one of the largest employers of educators graduating from Bellarmine.
This is the first time the university and JCPS have partnered to provide a master's in teaching aimed at increasing the number of teachers of color in JCPS classrooms.
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