FL03: An Alternative Physics Teacher Certification Program for STEM Professionals (Or: How to skip student teaching and be a paid, mentored new physics teacher.)

Dan MacIsaac, SUNY- Buffalo State College Department of Physics 716 878 3802, danmac@att.net 
David Henry SUNY – Buffalo State College Department of Elementary Education and Reading
Joe L Zawicki, SUNY – Buffalo State College Department of Earth Science and Science Education 
Dewayne Beery, SUNY- Buffalo State College Dept of Physics

SUNY BSC has established a new alternative certification program called the MSEd (Physics -- Alt. Cert.) designed to allow STEM professionals to switch careers without excessive disruption to salary income. The program includes an intensive two-year mentored apprenticeship as a working HS physics teacher supplemented with evening and summer academy courses. The program will be described, together with insights gained from experiences from the first year of operation.

Insights:

- in May 2003, we had 

- very distinctive, definitive program that is very politically correct and fungible (DofEd, NSF, teacher accreditation programs).  

- federal funding is available for these people and your program, especially if the candidate will work in a high-needs LEA (if these LEAs can hire).

- alt cert candidates are very unlike regular cross-certifying teachers (20%/80% mix by pop)

- alt cert candidates are usually multiply laid-off male engineers (100%)

- STEM professionals didn't learn their physics either and aren't ready to teach it (80%)

- dedicated alt cert candidates can be readily identified by their existing substitute teacher certification.  Less dedicated individuals are preparing boltholes.