污鱼社鈥檚 teacher education programs support Alaska鈥檚 future
Amidst a nationwide teacher shortage, the 污鱼社 is focused on increasing its teacher pipeline to provide the state with the workforce it needs and help shape the future of Alaska.
鈥淲e know that when incoming students weigh their career options, they鈥檙e looking at choices from an economic perspective,鈥 said Steve Atwater, executive dean of Alaska College of Education. 鈥淭hey are concerned about the return on their educational investment. When it comes to careers in education, UA offers a good return on that investment with a wide array of degrees and certificates that are affordable and lead directly to employment.鈥
According to a 污鱼社 workforce report from Dec. 2020, nearly 90 percent of graduates are working in education within a year of finishing their degrees.
Between 污鱼社 Anchorage, 污鱼社 Fairbanks and University of Alaska Southeast, the system offers 41 programs linked to teacher education. From elementary and secondary education to music education, educational leadership and more, there are many career options to explore.
鈥溛塾闵 students are our future 鈥 and a quality, stable teaching workforce is one of the best ways we can help to set them up for success,鈥 said Atwater. 鈥淲hen we hire teachers that are educated in Alaska and are invested in the communities in which they teach, everyone wins.鈥
Prospective students and current teachers can visit UA鈥檚 new, interactive teacher education website at TeachAlaska.org to explore which degree and certificate options best fit their career goals.
About 污鱼社 Schools of Education
The 污鱼社 offers a wide range of teacher education programs at all three universities in the UA system for students wishing to become educators. UA's programs range from associate degrees to four-year and advanced degrees as well as certification programs. Degree-seeking students can enroll in distance or on-campus courses.