Malone University receives financial support to participate in Ohio Teacher Bootcamp Program
One of only eight institutions in the State to receive approval and funding to participate, Malone will receive up to $25,000 to offer upskilling experiences for Ohio K-12 educators in a variety of sectors.
Ohio's Teacher Bootcamp Program, made possible by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, provides reimbursement to approved colleges and universities for tuition costs of coursework taken by teachers to up-skill themselves. Qualifying coursework is to be delivered in bootcamp format and may include Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or graduate credit coursework. The goal is to incentivize teacher professional development and strengthen the quality of education so that today’s students will be better prepared for careers after graduation.
“We’ve seen great success from communities doing this independently, and [these] awards will help us grow the program to serve more students, schools, and communities,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “This is a win for everyone involved because we are showing teachers what a career looks like in their community so they can bring that knowledge back to the classroom and incorporate it into their lessons, teaching their students what skills are in-demand to help create the future talent pipeline for businesses near them.”
During the bootcamps, teachers learn about which skills the businesses in their region are looking for by participating in local tours and completing related coursework. Through these experiences, teachers are exposed to new industries and jobs so they can better prepare students to be career-ready upon graduation.
“We are excited to offer teachers an opportunity to learn more about the skills needed in these growing sectors of cybersecurity and Broadband 5G,” said Donna Bishop, Ed.D., director of the Center for Professional Development. “An important feature of our bootcamps will be the opportunity for teachers to collaborate as they learn about these growing work sectors, then they can integrate their knowledge and experience into classroom content lessons from which their students can benefit. I, too, have learned much about the employment opportunities in Stark and surrounding counties, and I’m grateful for the support of Bob Gessner, retired owner of Massillon Cable TV, Ray Hexamer, CEO of Stark County Economic Development Board, and John Richard of the Stark County Educational Partnership for their guidance on the area workforce needs and expertise in the related sectors of employment.”
“Ohio educators understand the strengths and unique learning needs of each of their students,” said Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. “Now, through Ohio's Teacher Bootcamp Program, our educators will have this same understanding about the skill sets being sought after in their communities to better prepare students for success in the classroom and their future careers.”
Registration for teachers will open on March 11. To inquire, please visit www.malone.edu/cpd