ALMA — A group of 19 Michigan teachers celebrated a unique milestone at Alma College’s Andison Chapel on Friday, July 12, as the first graduates of Alma’s Master of Arts in Special Education with Learning Disabilities Endorsement program.
Among the speakers at the hooding ceremony were Peggy Yates, associate professor and director of the Master of Arts in Special Education program, Sean Burke, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chad Podolak, success navigator at Talent Together.
Talent Together is a consortium of 50 intermediate school districts (ISDs) and regional educational service areas (RESAs) in the state of Michigan. The partnership between Alma College and Talent Together provided a free pathway through a state grant for the teachers to complete their degrees.
“With such an incredible need for special educators, taking on student loans to fill this need is problematic. We easily filled an entire cohort of teachers once the financial barrier was eliminated,” Yates said. “This was an incredible first year of the program and we’re so grateful to Talent Together for their partnership. It’s a great vote of confidence as to our capability of administering a program like this — and to the need for it, across the state of Michigan.”
The Master’s program is a 12-month, fully online program in which Michigan-certified teachers can earn special education licensure with an endorsement in learning disabilities from the Michigan Department of Education.
- Alma College has expanded our vibrant student-centered educational programs to include graduate degrees. Learn more at alma.edu/academics/programs/graduate-programs.
The 30-credit program was designed for any teacher; at an elementary, secondary or special education level, who is already licensed to teach and is employed. Teachers who have this degree learn how to lead classrooms of students with unique learning needs, as well as how to plan and provide instruction, encompassing evidence-based practices in reading, writing, math and behavior. They also learn how to supervise support staff in their classrooms.
Bethanne Anders, a teacher in the Bentley Community Schools district, was one of the graduates. As an educator with 22 years of experience, who recently moved from teaching elementary education to teaching special education, Anders said she has seen firsthand the need for special education teachers in Michigan. Alma College’s program was “invaluable” to her continuing education as a teacher, she added.
“I would recommend this program to anybody,” Anders said. “The amount of information that you get about special education is incredibly useful. Dr. Yates and all of our instructors were so helpful. I am thrilled to be able to take these lessons learned and immediately apply them to the work of helping students succeed.”
Alma College will partner once again with Talent Together to hold class for Master’s students in the fall 2024 term. In addition to the cohort from the Talent Together partnership, Yates said that nine additional students in the incoming class completed their undergraduate education at Alma College.
For more information on Alma College and the Master of Arts in Special Education with Learning Disabilities Endorsement program, visit alma.edu/academics/programs/ma-in-special-education.