COE Announces New Teacher Preparation Initiative: Accelerated Alternative Licensure STEM Program

The College of Education at the University of New Mexico announces a new teacher preparation initiative funded by the NM Department of Education in the area of STEM education to begin January, 2015. This University/School Partnership program with Albuquerque Public Schools and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation will begin to address the teacher shortage in the field of science and mathematics at the middle and high school level.

The Accelerated Alternative Licensure Program (AALP) in the area of STEM education will recruit highly motivated STEM professionals and veterans into the middle and secondary education to become licensed teachers in the field of STEM education.  This one-year program has an intensive field component, supported by course work, and intense mentoring and supervision from faculty in the College and master teachers from the Albuquerque Public School who will serve as partners with this initiative.  

The program offers scholarships to students for tuition, books, and fees; intensive field- experiences; master teacher supervision and mentoring; immediate participation as co-teachers; excellent content and curriculum preparation; mentoring and coaching during and after program completion; national/regional networking opportunities; and job placement in Albuquerque School District upon completion of AALP licensure program.  

Students admitted into the AALP program will meet all requirements for admission into the University and the College of Education Secondary Education Program.  Students will be interviewed and selected for participation in the program by college program faculty and APS educators participating with the AALP program.

For more information, please contact Dr. Vi Florez - 277-2367 (vflorez@unm.edu) or Dr. Teri Sheldahl, Program Coordinator - 277-2320 ( terishel@unm.edu) or individual program faculty - Dr. Kathryn Watkins – 277- 8186 (Watkins@unm.edu), Dr. Deborah Roberts Harris – 277-0282 (drober02@unm.edu), Kersti Tyson –277-4979 (kersti@unm.edu), Anne Madsen – 505-610-6884 (madsen@unm.edu).