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KENNESAW, Ga. | May 16, 2024

Through a new partnership with Kennesaw State University, a group of DeKalb County educators will receive specialized training and earn a master鈥檚 degree to assist with their district鈥檚 student needs.

The aims to bolster teacher retention and combat a shortage of educators, while providing them with no-cost professional development. launched the program in January, but the new partnership with KSU will expand it to specifically address a need for special education teachers.

鈥淏agwell College prides itself on graduating prepared and highly qualified educators, who are ready to take on the next challenge in the classroom,鈥� said Adrian Epps, dean of KSU鈥檚 . 鈥淭his partnership with DeKalb Schools, and other partnerships with K-12 districts, will create a cadre of teachers committed to their students and to the needs of specialized areas of education.鈥�

The purpose of the IGNITE DeKalb Teacher Residency Program is to create an alternate route to certification programs designed to prepare high quality, committed, aspiring teachers who can work effectively with students in Horizon schools across DeKalb County.鈥疶hese aspiring teachers may be current paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, tutors, non-certified employees or college graduates who have a passion for teaching the next generation of scholars.

Bagwell College has similarly partnered with and to create pipelines of quality educators and combat teacher shortages locally and statewide.

The 25 teachers selected for DeKalb鈥檚 IGNITE residency program will earn a from the in the Bagwell College. The DeKalb County School District will bear the cost of tuition, textbooks, certification assessments, and fees on behalf of candidates selected. All candidates will be employed by DCSD and serve in a paid $30,000, full-time, student-facing position, alongside a mentor, while completing their coursework and clinical experience requirements.

Upon completion of the program and additional certification requirements, resident teachers will be eligible for a full-time teaching position. They will serve as full-time teachers of record in a Horizon School in the District for a minimum of five years.

鈥淒eKalb County School District is an innovative district, and they developed this partnership to address teacher shortages affecting their district, a problem not unknown to many districts across the country,鈥� said Denise Ross, chair of the Department of Inclusive Education and professor of special education. 鈥淭his partnership is critical, because it helps KSU and DeKalb Schools join together to increase the number of qualified special education teachers and, therefore, the success of our children.鈥�

DeKalb County School District Superintendent Dr. Devon Q. Horton said his district is thrilled to partner with KSU on the residency program, which will combine rigorous academic coursework and practical experience.

鈥淭his partnership extends our commitment to providing a streamlined pathway for teacher certification and will help a group of already outstanding individuals become certified special education teachers,鈥� Horton said. 鈥淭hese educators are in high demand and crucial for schools, so this collaboration is very good news for our district community.鈥�

The 25-teacher resident cohort will begin its master鈥檚 degree program in June 2024 and must complete the training no later than May 31, 2025. DeKalb is similarly partnering with a second university to train another 25-teacher cohort.

鈥� By Thomas Hartwell

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 色色啦. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.