TEACH Bridges to the Future Secondary Teacher Education Pathway

TEACH Bridges to the Future is a one-year, 36-credit pathway leading to a Master’s degree and middle or high school teacher licensure. It is offered by the School of Education in partnership with the rural communities of Orange, Montague, Greenfield and Deerfield, Massachusetts.

It was launched by the School of Education and inspired by its alumnus, entertainer Dr. Bill Cosby, as a broad-based effort to revitalize education in rural communities located near the university’s campus.

Bridges to the Future’s curriculum emphasizes the use of best practice pedagogies, integration of new and emerging technologies, and implementation of community service learning.

As a TEACH Bridges licensure candidate, what will you do?

Beginning in the end of August, you will work with rural middle or high school students as a micro-teacher or student teacher. By mid-year, as a clinical teacher, you will become part of a middle school team or high school department.

Throughout the academic year, you will learn the skills and competencies needed to be a successful teacher, including:

• Motivating students
  
• Sharing different cultures
  
• Planning instruction and designing curriculum
  
• Developing professional portfolios
  
• Teaching and team teaching classes
  
• Assessing student learning
  
• Building problem-solving techniques
  
• Collaborating with other Bridges candidates

You will also take graduate classes related to your teaching level, participate in seminar discussions about effective and equitable teaching strategies, and develop a community service “legacy project” that supports student leadership.

Applying for TEACH Bridges candidacy

TEACH Bridges to the Future Secondary Teacher Education Pathway is designed for graduating college seniors, college graduates and second career professionals of any age who:

• have a record of leadership and achievement
  
• have an interest in a career in education
  
• would like to teach for a year in a rural middle or high school

Pre-requisites for acceptance

Please go to www.umass.edu/education/licensure/programs.shtml for details.

Admissions Process

You must complete the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School application which is available online at www.umass.edu/gradschool.

Include the following with your application:

• Personal Statement that includes your goals as well as your beliefs about teaching and learning
  
• Hard copy of your passing scores on the Communications and Literacy Skills portion of the MTEL
  
• Two recommendations - one academic and one highlighting your work with children and adolescents
  
• Your current resume

Application Deadline

January 15 is the formal deadline for application.

Contact Information

Coordinator: Ruth-Ellen Verock-O'Loughlin (Senior Lecturer)
Email: ruth-ellen@educ.umass.edu