The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is announcing the establishment of its new SCOE School of Education. The school will offer new teachers and top-quality candidates an alternative pathway to the classroom and provide aspiring administrators with essential support needed to become successful school leaders.
The SCOE School of Education includes two divisions: Teaching and Leading. The "Teaching" division houses the SCOE Intern Program and the BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment) teacher credentialing program. The "Leading" division houses the SCOE Leadership Institute, a collaboration with local school districts that prepares and supports both current and aspiring education leaders.
"We are looking for high-quality candidates to staff our classrooms," said David W. Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools. "The SCOE School of Education will prepare new teachers and administrators to meet the needs of both the current and next generation of students and families in the Sacramento Region."
The SCOE School of Education will offer a two-year Intern Program as an alternative pathway to either a Single Subject Math/Science or a Multiple Subject credential by offering an accelerated entry to teaching. Colleges and universities, or an approved Local Educational Agency (LEA) may sponsor such programs. SCOE is a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) accredited provider. Applicants are required to have a college degree.
The SCOE Intern Program is well suited to second-career professionals, paraprofessionals with some teaching experience, recent college graduates in content areas (such as math and science) experiencing a shortage of teachers, and candidates unable to pursue traditional teacher preparation programs.
"The SCOE Intern Program combines practical, relevant coursework with on-site support and mentoring," said SCOE School of Education Executive Director, L. Steven Winlock, Ed.D. "We recognize that our candidates bring a wealth of prior experience to the program and our courses are designed to link educational theory with best instructional practices."
Support for SCOE intern teachers will be provided through a collaborative partnership between the school district and the SCOE School of Education. A mentor teacher from the district will provide on-site peer coaching. Field supervisors and faculty from the SCOE School of Education will also provide ongoing coaching through planned observations and consultations during regularly scheduled site visits.
The Leadership Institute offers CTC-approved programs for preliminary administrative credentials and clear credentials. The Institute received a prestigious Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association in December 2013.
SCOE Intern Program applications, details about upcoming information sessions, and additional information can be found on the SCOE School of Education website.