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Board approves JMU–SVCC pathway to recruit paraprofessionals into teaching
Summary
A memorandum to partner with James Madison University and Southside Virginia Community College to create pathways for paraprofessionals to become teachers was approved; board members flagged scholarship and scaling opportunities.
Patty Branch briefed the board on a partnership begun last year with James Madison University (JMU) and Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) that targets paraprofessionals for teacher-preparation pathways. Branch said three paraprofessionals are currently in the program and the partnership will expand in January to recruit more candidates and may include scholarships for regional participants.
"If we continue with this, we will roll out in January targeting a new group and hopefully add more people to our teacher applicant pool," Branch said. Board members praised the effort as a way to grow the local teacher pipeline and approved the MOU unanimously.
Administration noted the arrangement provides support for practicum placements and student-teaching logistics and includes scholarship opportunities for some applicants who attend JMU as part of the program.
