Aspiring Educator Pathway Project

The purpose of AEPP is to partner with local school entities to review best practices in developing fluid programs between ESU and the local education entities that educate current students in grades 8-16 on the role of an educator. This program will create in-school clubs that inform on the profession of education, pair students with a mentor teacher in the field for clinical experiences, and provide opportunities for student professional development in their schools and on the higher ed campus. This project will offer dual enrollment courses to interested students, introduce students to on campus college experiences, continue mentorships during college field experiences, and provide ongoing support to first- year teachers. Through a collaborative approach AEPP's purpose will allow students the additional support needed to complete their preparation and return to their community schools for employment.

Vision

In an effort to proactively combat the education workforce shortage, the framework for this project is grounded in the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) approved teacher recruitment toolkit, Diversifying the Teacher Pipeline. This research-driven approach pairs school entities with Institutions of Higher Education to work collaboratively in the development of future teacher clubs, developing cohorts of students to learn more about a profession in education.