Alternative
Certification: This is a pathway to teacher licensure outside the
traditional, accredited program of teacher education. This pathway
is a response to manpower needs that have not been met due to geographical,
economic, or market-driven conditions. Alternative Certification is
a last resort strategy to staff classrooms and provide learners with
teachers undergoing development on the job.
Alternate licensure is available under the premise that the candidate brings content expertise in an area of middle and/or high school preparation to the classroom. Acceptable Praxis I and II scores must be obtained and reported prior to admission to the TMI program. Alternate licensure candidates need to realize that effective instruction results from a good balance between knowledge of content and instructional delivery aimed individually at each learner. Conversations with area administrators indicate a willingness to employ alternate certified personnel after exhausting the supply of teachers holding accreditation from a university teacher education program. Experience with supervision of alternate and emergency certified teachers has led to the conclusion that limitations typically are realized in three areas of teaching:
•
CIS 603 - Classroom Management
• CIS 700 - Instructional Design
• REF 632 - Assessment of Learning
TMI
course delivery each summer is intended to introduce the candidate
to fundamentals in each of these areas of teaching. Candidates will
register for nine graduate hours of credit to begin in late May and
conclude the end of July (approximately 9 weeks). A portion of the
summer experience may include
a teaching assignment in summer remedial classroom through a cooperating
public school if candidates have no teaching experience.
Candidates are responsible for their own employment fall semester following successful completion of summer coursework. Upon securing a position, the candidate will register for a Supervised Internship – CIS 694. TMI staff will make classroom visits during the fall semester as well as maintain e-mail and /or chatroom communications to address concerns experienced during instruction. Internships are designed for instructional support AND assessment of teaching effectiveness. Completion of the Internship following the summer course work satisfies state requirements for a Standard License-Nontraditional Route in your area of competence.
Candidates
are encouraged to continue their study toward completion of a Master
of Arts in Teaching (MAT). An interface between the first 12 hours
and the MAT is purposeful and intended to draw you toward a professional
degree in teaching. Pursuit of the MAT will require passing the Graduate
Record Exam and admission to a graduate program. Candidates without
formal admission will enroll in courses with a non-degree waiver.
This status will cap the hours at nine that may be applied to a master's
degree. Candidates interested in an MAT degree (and the flexibility
for out-of-state employment) should register for one additional 3
hour course listed on the MAT Plan of Study with the Supervised
internship. The spring term would include another internship
and a reading procedures course. Twelve additional hours in the content
area of our licensure will be taken in the summer term.
Additional
requirements will be negotiated with the candidate at the point of
admission to the MAT.
PRAXIS
I and PRAXIS II - contact the Testing Center for information
about these exams 601.266.6123
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Summer tuition - current fees are listed on the Business Services
Web site at www.usm.edu/bizserv.
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Upon
successful completion of the 9-hour summer institute, participants
may apply to the Mississippi Department of Education for a One-Year
Nontraditional Teaching Route License and seek employment in a Mississippi
Public school district. Employment in an appropriate teaching position
is the responsibility of the participant. The Teacher Center at the
Mississippi Department of Education, http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/mtc/vacancy.htm
may be of help in finding a position.
