The Teacher Cadet Program uses an innovative approach designed to attract talented young people to the teaching profession through a challenging introduction to teaching.
The Program seeks to provide high school students with insight into the nature of teaching, the problems of schooling, and the critical issues affecting the quality of education in America’s schools.
Teacher Cadet is an Interactive Program that…
- Studies growth and development of the learner
- Examines the diversity, cultural, historical, social, political, and legal forces that shape education in the US public school system
- Explores the role of the teacher and philosophy that guides teaching
- Examines the Colorado teacher licensure process and Colorado university teacher education programs
- Provides a six-week mini-teaching internship, a professional shadow experience, and observations of learners at all age groups
- Delivers rigorous curriculum demonstrated with a year-end portfolio of a body of work
- Opportunity for college credit to community colleges and universities
- English high school credit offered in some districts
- Student admission criteria include 3.0 GPA, application process, and three teacher recommendation
History
Teacher Cadet is a nationally recognized high school curriculum licensed by CERRA, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, the oldest, most established recruitment program in the country. South Carolina piloted the program in 4 high schools in 1985. Since then 38 states have implemented the Teacher Cadet program with more than 65,500 students have completed the program.
In the year 2001, Colorado put into place the first Teacher Cadet program which has grown from two high schools to over 30 throughout the state. Teacher Cadet answers the call of recruiting and retaining students into education, especially in this time of extreme teacher shortage.
Colorado Highlights for Administrators/Teachers
- Teacher Cadet program reimbursement is available through state CTA funds and Carl Perkins Federal funding if the program becomes an approved secondary program through the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).
- Schools have the opportunity to select dynamic teachers for training and Career and Technical Education credentials.
- Statewide ongoing Professional Development is provided to support instructors.
- Colorado’s Teacher Cadet program has proven to be sustainable and successful over the last 20+ years.
Colorado Program Vision
- A state leadership position and funding for the administration, training, professional development, articulation and public relations of the program.
- Student access to a flexible and adaptable implementation model for the Colorado Teacher Cadet program to ensure all students have the opportunity throughout the state.
- Strengthen the teaching pathway by linking middle school to high school programs onto to post-secondary teacher preparation programs and licensure