Alternative Certification Services

Attention educators who are teaching in western and central Maine under conditional, transitional, or targeted needs certification. This initiative is for you! It will provide you with coursework and supervision that will move you through your state requirements to obtain provisional certification.

Courses are delivered either onsite or online with onsite observations and one face-to-face meeting at the conclusion of the course.

This is our fourth year working with teachers through this initiative, and it’s been an exciting experience for all of us.

Coursework is designed to not only meet your certification needs but to be immediately applicable in your own classroom. Research demonstrates that adult learners need meaningful and applicable coursework and that is the fundamental belief that underscores this program. The online learning environment allows peers to learn from and with each other in a format that can be accessed around the clock and from anywhere!

Completion Rate

To date, thirty nine teachers have participated in this initiative, and twenty eight of them have been able to complete all requirements necessary for provisional certification. These are twenty eight very happy teachers, with very happy principals and superintendents who have supported them. Most of the remaining teachers are continuing to work towards their certification goals.

Courses Available

The courses we offer are approved by Middle/Secondary Education Department at UMF and carry graduate credit. Courses currently available are:

EDU 500 General Middle/Secondary Content Methods

EDU 501 Content Literacy (meets “Middle Level Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum”)

EDU 503 History and Philosophy of Education (meets “Knowledge of the Learning Process”)

EDU 511 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (meets “Curriculum Design” or “Methods of Evaluation”)

EDU 533 Educational Psychology (meets “Knowledge of the Learner”)

EDU 560 Middle/Secondary Science Methods

EDU 561 Middle/Secondary Mathematics Education

EDU 562 Middle/Secondary Social Science Education

EDU 563 Middle/Secondary English Methods

School Districts That Are Involved To Date

Teachers from the following school districts have been, or are currently participating in the Alternative Certification Initiative: MSAD #13 (Bingham, Moscow, Caratunk), MSAD #21 (Dixfield & Canton), MSAD #43 (Rumford & Mexico), MSAD #59 (Madison, Athens, Starks), and MSAD #74 (Anson, North Anson, Emden, Solon). MSAD #17 (Oxford Hills Comprehensive HS); Pittsfield (MCI); Augusta (St. Mary’s); MSAD #9 (Mt. Blue HS); MSAD #71 (Kennebunk Middle School).

How To Get Involved

If you are interested in getting involved in this initiative, or just want more information, please feel free to contact Valerie Soucie or me.

-Sandy Griswold

Contact Information:

Sandy Griswold, Mentor Program Coordinator 778-7066 sgriswold@maine.edu
Pam Wilson, RTDC Director 778-7186 pwilson@maine.edu

Valerie Soucie, RTDC Administrative Assistant 778-7502 valerie.soucie@maine.edu