DOBBSS FERRY, NEW YORK — Mercy University and Bloom's BoardMercy, a leading provider of talent development for K-12 school districts, today announced an innovative new partnership to help address the teacher shortage in New York. Together, they will support New York school districts in providing a job-based delivery pathway for Mercy’s B-12 Bachelor of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities program to bring more highly qualified special education teachers into New York classrooms. The program removes traditional barriers to earning a bachelor’s degree in teaching, creating a more accessible pathway for aspiring teachers. This is the first in a plan to offer several job-based programs to develop and advance New York’s teachers.
“By partnering with BloomBoard, Mercy University is able to create innovative pathways for future educators and address the teacher shortage,” said Eric Martone, dean of Mercy University’s College of Education. “This new learning model for future special education teachers provides on-the-job accessibility so participants can earn their degree while working in a real classroom.”
In New York, as in the rest of the country, there is a high demand for candidates to teach special education. According to a 2022 NCES study40% of U.S. public schools struggled to fill vacant special education teacher positions. And by 2023, New York City public schools reported that the district was facing a critical shortage of special education teachers. This innovative bachelor’s degree program offered by Mercy University aims to help school districts sustainably develop a pool of highly qualified educators for these hard-to-fill positions.
“We are excited to partner with Mercy University to provide affordable, high-quality education for future teachers while helping New York school districts solve a critical staffing challenge,” said Sanford Kenyon, CEO of BloomBoard. “This new partnership supports our mission to revolutionize educator preparation and advancement pathways.”
Candidates who have an associate's degree and are currently working in a school may enroll in the program as part of a district-sponsored cohort. Candidates who earn this degree and pass all required certification assessments are eligible for the New York Students with Disabilities (All Grades) certificate.
BloomBoard will support New York school districts and BOCES in implementing Mercy University's program within their own school systems. The company will help identify funding sources and build support for the program to achieve effective implementation and student success. New York's Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES (E2CCB) has joined as the first BOCES to implement this innovative program in its school districts.
“This program can go a long way toward addressing an unmet need in New York State,” said Laurie LiPuma, Executive Director of Human Resources for E2CCB. “School districts are looking for teachers, and often the best candidates are already working there in support roles. This program allows teaching assistants, paraprofessionals, and other qualified support staff who have faced barriers to advancement to become great special education teachers while working alongside students and being paid.”
School districts interested in participating in this program in the fall or beyond can learn more by contacting Michelle Licata of BloomBoard ([email protected]). Click here for more information.
About Mercy University
Mercy University is an independent, coeducational institution serving more than 9,000 students each year at its campuses in Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan, and online. It is a federally designated Minority Serving Institution and the largest private Hispanic-Serving Institution in New York State. Mercy offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificate programs across six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The institution also offers noncredit courses and certificates for adult learners seeking to acquire new skills through Mercy University's CERTiFi. Mercy was founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, whose mission of transformative education remains strong. For more information, visit http://www.mercy.edu.
About BloomBoard
BloomBoard is a talent development provider that enables K-12 school districts to develop, promote, and retain educators by making professional education a benefit of employment. The company offers comprehensive programs for school districts to advance educators at all points in their career path. Their platform connects districts with higher education institutions that offer certificate and degree programs using a unique on-the-job instruction model. Visit http://www.bloomboard.com Learn more.
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