Teach Mississippi Institute (TMI)
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.
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.