{"id":705,"date":"2017-09-20T20:25:43","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T20:25:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.americanboard.org\/blog\/?p=705"},"modified":"2017-09-20T20:25:43","modified_gmt":"2017-09-20T20:25:43","slug":"alt-teacher-certification-opens-for-arizona-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.americanboard.org\/blog\/alt-teacher-certification-opens-for-arizona-teachers\/","title":{"rendered":"Teacher certification program opens enrollment for future Arizona teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The school year began last month, but schools in Arizona still need more than 2,000 teachers, according to recent data<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, new rules were recently implemented<\/a> to provide a solution by reopening alternative teacher certification programs. Such programs provide potential teachers with resources and training to make sure they are proficient and prepared educators.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always wanted to be a teacher. I knew I wanted to be one before I even finished my degree [in social work],\u201d said Arizona resident Shantel Tiner.<\/p>\n

Tiner began researching alternative teacher certification options for Arizona and discovered American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence. The national nonprofit provides an online, self-paced path to teacher certification and reopened enrollment to future Arizona teachers on September 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmerican Board was the best match because I could study from home and my son was in preschool at the time. American Board gave me the knowledge I needed,\u201d Tiner said.<\/p>\n

American Board recruits career changers who live in communities suffering from the teacher shortage instead of hoping outsiders will move to these areas.<\/p>\n

Principals report American Board certified teachers perform better than or equivalent to traditionally trained teachers across 95 percent of 20 teacher qualities measured, according to a recent Drexel University study<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had been a stay at home mom for about 16 years. I decided I was ready to get back in the work force, but that can be hard when you haven\u2019t been working for a long time,\u201d said Arizona resident Sheryl Beskind. \u201cThe first job I got was in the Special Education Department [at a local school] and I realized immediately that\u2019s where I wanted to be. I learned about the American Board and realized I could be employed while going back to school. It was the program that fit me best!\u201d<\/p>\n

American Board helps individuals with a bachelor\u2019s degree prepare for two exams to demonstrate their proficiency in pedagogy skills and subject area knowledge. The teachers then complete classroom observations and further training.<\/p>\n

Multiple events will be held in the Phoenix area and Tucson to provide potential educators with information on how they can start earning teacher certification. The events will take place:<\/p>\n