*In this photo:* (L-r) Nikki Monroe-Hines, Teach For America (TFA) Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives; Sade Truitt, TFA Regional Board Member; Dr. Shelley Rouser, DSU Education Department Chair; Tamara N. Smith, TFA-DE Executive Director; Dr. Tina Mitchell, DSU Director, Office of Education Graduate Programs and ARTC/MAT Program Coordinator; and Maya Brown; TFA Recruitment Manager. This group is implementing the Alternative Route to Teaching Certification and Master of Arts in Teaching Program.

On Campus

DSU, Teach For America-Delaware establish partnership

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Delaware State University’s Education Department has established a new partnership with Teach For America-Delaware that provides an alternative route to teacher certification (ARTC) and a DSU Master of Art in Teaching (MAT) degree.

The MAT/ARTC program is for individuals who have earned or are in the process of earning a bachelor’s degree in a non-education discipline and want to enter the teaching profession. In addition to possessing a bachelor’s degree and earning sufficient content area credits, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and passing of the Praxis II exam is required to enroll in the University’s MAT Program. The program can lead to teaching certifications for middle school and high school in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Art, Music, Business, Agriculture, Physical Education, Science and Social Studies.

“The equity-focused program allows teacher candidates an opportunity to both work as a full-time teacher and earn a master’s degree at Delaware State University,” said Dr. Tina Mitchell, Director of DSU’s Office of Education Graduate Programs and Coordinator of the MAT/ARTC Program. “The partnership allows us to expand our program to New Castle County, and deepen existing partnerships in Kent and Sussex County.”

As part of the agreement, Teach For America (TFA) – Delaware will officially list DSU as a partner and will recruit students for the MAT/ARTC Program. Tamara Smith, Executive Director for Teach For America Delaware is enthusiastic about the opportunity presented by the partnership.

“Our commitment to providing a diverse, culturally competent teaching force has grown that much stronger thanks to our partnership with DSU,” Ms. Smith said. “Together we will work to recruit our nation’s leaders, locally and nationally, to teach students in Delaware’s communities.”

The DSU partnership with Teach For America-Delaware is consistent with the Education Department’s priority of producing more teachers of color for school systems, especially in the First State. This marks TFA’s first certification partnership with a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Teach For America-Delaware is an organization that leverages national and local resources to prepare educators to best meet the needs of Delaware’s underserved students and communities. It is part of the national Teach For America organization, which works to ensure that all children can attain an excellent education.

Dr. Shelley Rouser, Chair of Delaware State University’s Education Department said that the partnership is significant.

“Delaware State University is committed to ensuring that children will experience teachers of color throughout their Pre-K through Grade 12 learning experience. We are addressing each aspect of the teacher pipeline through a multi-pronged strategy and that includes this partnership with TFA-DE, which has a shared commitment,” Dr. Rouser said. “In the coming months we will deepen our collaborations with local school districts and charters across the state to implement innovative solutions that are both sustainable over time and scalable over space to address the teacher shortage crisis.”