CAREER CHANGER INFORMATION:  TEACH TUESDAY'S - BECOME A TEACHER AND SO YOU THINK YOU CAN TEACH (SYTYCT) WORKSHOPS

During the 21-22 school year our HR Teach Tuesday & SYTYCT Workshops will be conducted in sessions scheduled on separate dates. On another date following our AACPS Human Resource's Recruitment Team's Teach Tuesday workshop on how to apply for a teaching position, our SYTYCT 2022 session will be offered to assist Career Changers with a bachelor's degree or higher who wish to teach in Anne Arundel County Public School to understand MSDE certification requirements and the three pathways available to become certified. The AACC/AACPS RTC program and the AACPS/NDMU RTC Program are both described below.  For questions about the SYTYCT workshops or follow up steps contact DMontgomery@aacps.org.  

Additional general Maryland information for career changers (non-certified college graduates) can always be found on the MSDE website - http://Mdcert.org.

At a glance:

SYTYCT Virtual Sessions will answer questions about AACPS Teacher Application, MSDE teacher certification requirements & alternative certification programs.

The SYTYCT workshop will be held through Google Meet - Link for all SYTYCT 2023 dates is SYTYCT2023.

Saturday, February 11, 2023, 9:00am to 10:30am

Monday, February 13, 2023, 6:00pm to 7:30pm

    No pre-registration will be required.  When you click the link to join the SYTYCT workshop, please wait so that you can be admitted to the meeting.  This process may take a few minutes and may slightly delay the start time of our presentation.   

Google Meet Link: SYTYCT2023 

https://meet.google.com/hdr-ymup-rri

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CURRENTLY OFFERS TWO ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO OUR PROVISIONAL/CONDITIONAL TEACHERS

1. Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP) Resident Teacher Certification (RTC) Program for General Educators
2. MAAPP/RTC Program (Special Education & Elementary or Secondary Education Certification)

                                   Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP) Resident Teacher Certification (RTC) Program                                                 Fourteen General Educators In Secondary Critical Shortage Areas

The AACPS - AACC MAAPP/RTC Program assists outstanding, capable professionals with a desire to teach in Anne Arundel County Public Schools by providing a seamless, efficient transition and structured route to earning full teacher certification (SPC1) in the state of Maryland. The MAAPP/RTC program is a partnership between Anne Arundel Community College and AACPS and provides funding for tuition and mentor support for participants.

TWO WAYS TO APPLY TO AACC/AACPS MAAPP RTC PROGRAM

First, interested current AACPS conditionally certified teachers or those teacher applicants who have been offered a position (open contract) by AACPS can apply to the MAAPP/RTC Program. You may qualify to participate in this alternative teacher preparation program if you have a bachelor’s or graduate degree and expertise as documented by a passing Praxis Content score in Math, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Language Arts,  English, Computer Science, Family and Consumer Sciences, Social Studies, Technology Education, or Foreign-Language (French or Spanish) studies and meet the other application requirements listed below. Those who complete the program will receive a standard Maryland State Department of Education Teaching Certificate (SPC 1). This intensive program consists of education college courses, professional development, mentorship, an internship opportunity within your school-based teaching position in AACPS and a residency lasting between 1.5 to 2.5 school years.

A second way to apply is through an annual Panel Interview Process for external applicants - not yet hired as teachers by AACPS; generally held in April.  Applicants for this panel interview must submit a complete application packet and supportive documents to Deborah Montgomery, RTC Program Manager by March 15, 2023. Contact DMontgomery@aacps.org for forms and guidance. The panel of AACC instructors. AACPS principals, curriculum and recruitment staff members will evaluate a candidate's background, readiness and/or potential for teaching at middle and or high school levels in specific critical shortage areas/positions determined in collaboration with our HR recruitment team. This year's panel content areas will be announced at the SYTYCT Career Changer Information Sessions on August 27 and August 29, 2022 (see info about SYTYCT 2022 in the article above).  Outstanding interview candidates may receive an HR open contract offer for a teaching position for the 2022-23 school year and enrollment in the RTC program. Other panel participants not recommended for an open offer contract may continue to interview at schools for teaching positions with the opportunity to participate in the RTC program if hired later in the hiring season.

Candidates for this alternative certification program must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in the U.S. with a minimum of 2.75 cumulative GPA.  The “Critical Shortage Areas” are: Middle School Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Middle and High School Mathematics, Family and Consumer Sciences, Technology Education, Computer Science, English and Language Arts, and World/Classical Languages (Spanish & French) and Social Studies 7-12.
• Passing scores on the initial Praxis (Praxis I or Core Praxis) and Praxis II (Content area).  Please attach a photocopy of the initial Praxis (Praxis I or Core Praxis) and Praxis II (Content) score report to the application.
• Applicants may meet the basic skills testing requirement (Praxis I/Praxis Core) requirement in an alternate way with a 3.0 GPA or by submitting qualifying scores on any of the following tests:  SAT, ACT, GRE.
  SAT-the composite score on the SAT taken before April 1995 is 1000; the composite score on the SAT taken after April 1995 is 1100; the composite score on the SAT taken after December 31, 2018 is 1180.
  ACT-the composite score must be at least 24.GRE-the composite score on the GRE taken prior to September 1, 2011 is 1000; the composite score on the GRE taken after September 1, 2011 is 297.
• Willingness to participate in an alternative teacher certification program and all program activities
• Availability for participation in “Pre-service” requirements (summer seminars, fieldwork, and courses) from May – August.
• Valid email address and regular access to a computer.
• Completed teacher application with AACPS Human Resources or current conditional/provisional teacher status.
• Conditional Teacher Applicants must have the approval of their current principal to participate in RTC.

Read more details about the RTC Program in the FAQ Document link below.

RTC Frequently Asked Questions 

For more information and application forms, contact:

Deborah Montgomery, MAAPP/RTC Program Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 410-721-8339,  dmontgomery@aacps.org

The number of participants accepted into each MAAPP/RTC cohort is based upon identified critical shortage content areas and available funding.

MAAPP/RTC Program (Special Education & Elementary or Secondary Education Certification)

The Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP) Resident Teacher Certificate (RTC) is a two-year program that provides support to career changers who are interested in becoming Special Education Teachers in Elementary or Secondary Education. The program is in partnership with the Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) and the Maryland State Department of Education. Those accepted into this program will attend classes and participate in an internship during the summer months and will be placed in a classroom in August. Candidates who successfully complete this program will emerge with a state-approved certification in the area of Special Education and General Education.

Candidates interested in this program must meet the following criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree (may not be in Education) – your transcripts will be reviewed by the Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) to determine if your completed course work is best suited to pursue certification in Elementary or Secondary Education
• An average of “B” or better in qualifying courses
• Passing scores on Praxis I and Praxis II 
• Interest in teaching Special Education students
• Commitment to teach in Anne Arundel County Public Schools for two years upon completion of the program
• This program is limited to a cohort of 20 individuals. All applicants must submit a complete application package that will be reviewed by AACPS and College of Notre Dame representatives for accuracy, validity, and quality. Candidates will then be selected for an interview with a screening committee.
• The application package must contain the following materials:
• A letter expressing your interest in this program (letter should be addressed to Diane McGowan, Director of Special Education)
• A resume
• College transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Praxis I scores
• Praxis II scores
• The application process is available for candidates beginning in October. The screening interviews are held in March and selected candidates will be notified by the middle of May.

View more information on this program

Application packages can be sent to Maureen Gerrity, Division of Special Education, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. For more information, please contact Maureen Gerrity at 410-222-5481.

Maureen Gerrity, RTC Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 410-222-5481/ mgerrity@aacps.org