Master of Education in Instruction and Learning

New Teacher Pathway

The gap in the supply of new teachers to the profession is unprecedented, and teachers are exiting the profession at increasing rates, resulting in more vacant positions than ever before. Whether you’ve just graduated with a bachelor’s degree or recently switched careers, the New Teacher Pathway is a collaborative program between ESC Region 13 and ACU Online that matches predetermined individuals with schools to become newly hired teachers.

Program Outcomes

Designed to guide aspiring teachers toward becoming credentialed educators, here is a quick view of how the pathway program operates from start to finish.

1. Sourcing
   ACU works with school districts to identify the competencies and personalities needed in teachers and sources new teacher candidates from outside the profession who possess a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a teaching career.
2. Equipping - Pre-Hire
   ACU works with the district to understand the minimum fundamentals necessary for the candidate to cross the threshold of their schools. The candidate learns this information through a bootcamp before interviewing with placement schools, thus preparing them for potential hiring.
3. Hiring
   ACU refers new teacher candidates to school districts within ESC Region 13, and candidates are eligible to be hired as paraprofessionals or classroom teachers with a two-year commitment given by the new employee.
4. Educating - Year One
   Upon hire, new employees will be enrolled in the ACU Professional Certification: Career and Calling in Teaching, comprised of six credit hours of academic credit of the ESC Region 13 alternative certification program and six credit hours of vocational formation from ACU. This certification must be completed by the new employee within their first year. Mentors and coaches from the district, ACU, and ESC13 will assist those enrolled in this program.
5. Empowering - Year Two
   After successfully completing their first year, ACU will deliver online integrated, work-based courses to empower teachers with the knowledge and resiliency to thrive in their careers. Second-year teachers will receive an additional 18 hours of academic credit and earn a Master of Education in Instruction and Learning.

Program Benefits

For New Educators	Have your educational journey funded by an ESC Region 13 ISD through our New Teacher Pathway and earn a Master of Education in Instruction and Learning at no cost to you.
For School Administrators	Obtain new teachers that fit your specific needs with a two-year commitment. Plus, be a part of the empowering movement to support the next wave of K-12 educators.

Grow Your Own Dual Credit Instructor

As the demand to advance the future prosperity and education obtainment of Texas citizens grows, the need to develop qualified dual-credit teachers is more important than ever. Through the Grow Your Own Dual Credit Instructor program, your existing high school instructional staff can earn the required
credentials to serve as the teacher of record at a post-secondary institution offering academic dual credit courses. This program also allows your teachers to serve as potential affiliate faculty members for ACU Online in our Classroom to Career preparatory programs.

To accomplish this goal, your staff will have the opportunity to earn a Master of Education in Instruction and Learning, with 18 hours dedicated to a specific academic area (e.g., Math, Computer Science, English, History) in as little as 20 months. Upon completion, they will earn their graduate degree with enough
subject-level graduate courses to become eligible to teach as a teacher of record for academic credit under the guidelines established by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Program Benefits

For High School Educators	Earn a Master’s degree in as little as two years and become equipped to teach college-level courses that enhance post-secondary options for your students.
For School Administrators	Invest in your existing instructional staff to expand your district’s dual-credit offerings while advancing your district’s academic performance and reputation.

Program Cost

Abilene Christian University is offering a dedicated scholarship to educators in ESC Region 13 who participate in this program. Enroll in our Master of Education in Instruction and Learning program, and you’ll receive a $3,000 scholarship, which reduces the tuition to $550 per credit hour, plus a $200 resource fee per course. Other financial aid may apply. Please speak with an admissions advisor to learn more.