In an effort to build up the local teacher pipeline, the Alameda County Office of Education and Reach University are teaming up to train dozens of new teachers over the next two years at a heavy discount.
Reach University’s annual tuition at the graduate level is typically $7,500, but through this partnership, candidates will pay $500 per year, or $42 a month, for the two-year program.
The partnership is targeting people who already work in schools on temporary substitute or emergency credentials, which school districts sometimes rely on to fill long-term vacancies. Through the program, they can earn a single- or multiple-subject credential aligned with California standards.
Reach University, an East Bay school that offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees for aspiring and experienced educators, usually works with individual school districts to educate teachers. But the county’s teacher crunch requires a broader investment.
“If we can do a coordinated effort and coordinate resources, that can benefit the entire community,” said Héctor Camacho, senior vice president and executive director of the western region for Reach University. “It’s all hands on deck for this teacher shortage.”
School districts in Alameda County began 2023 with 120 classroom vacancies, said Kristin Bijur, the chief of educator effectiveness for the county. More teachers are retiring, and fewer are entering the profession, exacerbating the problem, she said.
Statewide, about 20,000 teachers need to be credentialed every year to keep pace with demand, according to Bijur. In 2023, only about 14,600 teachers got credentials. “We see the same patterns playing out in Alameda County,” she said.
In recent years, the closures of Mills College and Holy Names University has also meant there are fewer schools training teachers in the East Bay. The collaboration is trying to address the barriers that keep people who are already working in schools and have bachelor’s degrees from pursuing a teaching credential: cost, time, and mentorship.
Under the Reach University model, those working full-time in schools can take virtual classes in the evenings. That means they don’t have to face the choice aspiring educators often confront on the traditional pathway to becoming a teacher: go back to school or earn a salary?
The program will also offer in-person coaching for all of the participants. In addition to a coach from Reach University who will provide supervision and support in the classroom, the county will also provide professional development and training once a month.
“Stepping into a classroom as an intern is a big deal, and this isn’t something we can play around with. These are children in front of us,” Camacho told The Oaklandside. “We will be in there for hours, working alongside these candidates so they feel supported as they earn their credential.”
The partnership is aiming to enroll 150 people by June 30 in Reach University’s intern teacher credential program, with the option to earn a master of arts in teaching. Candidates must be working in a K-12 district school in Alameda County and already have a bachelor’s degree. Those interested can fill out an interest form online and sign up for an information session.
“We’re not just trying to prepare any educators, but highly skilled, culturally responsive educators who have a mindset of their responsibility to serve each and every child,” Bijur told The Oaklandside. “It came from years of listening and learning why paraeducators say, ‘I can’t become a teacher,’ or why people are avoiding or choosing other career paths.”
