FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Teacher Corps is accepting applications for its third group of Fellows, who will start teaching in the 2015-16 school year.
The alternative-licensure program was created to help school districts with hard-to-fill teaching positions. The program provides an accelerated path to teaching for applicants who come from a wide range of backgrounds and educational experiences. It was established in 2013 by the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas.
Applications are available on the Arkansas Teacher Corps website. The application deadlines are Dec. 28 for early decision candidates and March 1 for regular decision candidates.
In addition to their regular teaching salary, Fellows receive a $15,000 stipend paid over their three years of teaching with the program. The program now has a total of 35 Fellows teaching in high-need schools primarily in the southern and eastern parts of the state.
One of these new Arkansas Teacher Corps Fellows brings nearly 30 years of experience in financial services to his five high school business classes this fall at Jacksonville Lighthouse Academy, a charter school in Pulaski County.
Christopher Collier, 55, of Hot Springs, has had a lifetime of experiences that led him to recognize teaching as his calling. He originally worked as a financial adviser and manager and became aware of the impact he might have on students through multiple volunteer experiences including Junior Achievement, coaching and classroom guest speaking.
Additionally, he founded a business offering youth sports tournaments and sought an opportunity for a long-term substitute teaching position that confirmed his desire to become an educator.
Fellows are required to attend a six-week summer institute for intensive training and to pass the required Praxis exams to gain licensure in Arkansas.
Collier said the summer institute, which took place this year in El Dorado, exceeded his expectations with its wealth of hands-on work and practical application of teaching methods.
"We spent time working in summer school classes in El Dorado, we were observed and we received feedback," Collier said. "We were put through our paces."
School on 08/31/2014