Манхэттенвиллский университет достиг halfway-точки программы подготовки учителей в Гудзонском регионе

Two years after receiving a nearly $1 million grant from New York state through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD), Manhattanville University’s School of Education is making progress in its effort to address teacher shortages and expand opportunities for aspiring educators across the Hudson Valley. As of summer 2026, Manhattanville, located in Purchase, New York, has reached the halfway point of its four-year Teaching Assistant to Teacher of Record: Investing in Our Local Workforce initiative, funded through a $997,439 award from New York State’s Education Workforce Investment: Alternative Teacher Certification Program. The initiative was created through a partnership between Manhattanville University’s School of Education, the Rockland Teachers’ Center Institute, and Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES. The goal of the initiative is to help teaching assistants already working in schools transition into certified classroom teachers through an accelerated, cost-free pathway that leads to both a master’s degree and New York State teacher certification. “The grant has enabled Manhattanville to create innovative pathways that help talented educators advance their careers while addressing critical workforce needs in our region,” said Brian V. Carolan, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Education at Manhattanville University. “We are proud of the progress made during the first half of the project and excited to continue expanding access to the teaching profession.” The program prepares teachers in high-need subject areas while helping diversify the educator workforce in Rockland, Putnam, and Westchester counties. Participants receive full tuition and fee support and benefit from a comprehensive mentoring and induction model designed to support their success in the classroom. A key objective of the grant is the development of alternative teacher preparation pathways leading to Transitional B certification in high-need teaching areas. As of Fall 2026, Manhattanville will offer three Transitional B pathways: Childhood Education (Grades 1–6) Childhood Education (Grades 1–6) and Special Education (All Grades) Special Education (All Grades), a new pathway launching this fall The first grant-supported cohort entered the program in fall 2024. The cohort included four grant-funded students and two additional students enrolled in the newly created Transitional B pathways. Four students from that inaugural group are expected to imminently graduate, including two grant-funded participants and two non-grant-funded participants (two other grant-funded students transitioned into another School of Education certification pathway during their first year). A second cohort of five grant-funded students began the program in fall 2025 and is progressing into its second year. The third cohort, scheduled to begin in fall 2026, is projected to include between nine and 11 students, making it the largest cohort to date. For many participants, the grant has provided an opportunity that otherwise would not have been financially feasible. While the Teaching Assistant to Teacher of Record: Investing in Our Local Workforce initiative was initially designed around partnerships with Rockland Teachers’ Center Institute and Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, candidates affiliated with additional school districts and institutions can participate in the initiative as well; Manhattanville welcomes new partnerships in the endeavor. The Teaching Assistant to Teacher of Record initiative was developed to address two pressing challenges facing schools throughout New York: shortages in high-need teaching areas and the need for a more diverse educator workforce. The anticipated outcomes include increasing the number of certified teacher candidates, strengthening support and belonging for new educators, and expanding the number and diversity of teachers serving local communities. As the project enters its second half, Manhattanville remains committed to developing innovative solutions that strengthen the teaching workforce and support K–12 education throughout the region. Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities.