Maryland Accelerates Program

 

• Eligibility Requirements
  

  The applicant must first be accepted into the Frostburg State University Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Elementary or Secondary Program. In addition, the applicants to the Maryland Accelerates Teacher Residency Program must:

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
  • For the Secondary residency track, possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Math, English, Art, Music, Foreign Language, or Computer Science;
  • Submit proof that they have never served as a teacher of record; and
  • Submit to and pass criminal and professional background checks.

• Frequently Asked Questons
  

  Do I need to first apply to and be accepted into the MAT Program?
  Yes, a candidate must first be accepted to the FSU Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.

  Is there a separate interview process for the Residency Track?
  Yes, a candidate who has been admitted to the MAT program will be eligible to apply for the Teacher-Residency track. A separate interview process is required.

  Where do candidates complete their residency?
  A candidate must complete his or her residency with one of the partnering districts.
  *Upon graduation, the resident must apply to one of the partnering counties and commit to teaching there for a minimum of 3 academic years.

  When will I receive the stipend?
  The stipend will be paid in equal monthly installments during the one-year residency program.

  How many credits are required for the MAT Teacher-Residency program?
  MAT-Elementary: 46 credits | MAT-Secondary: 39-40 credits

  What undergraduate courses do I need?
  For the MAT-Elementary track, you need:

  • 9 credit hours in the Sciences, (courses must include a Biology, a Physical Science, and an Earth or Space course)
  • 9 credit hours in Mathematics above the developmental level
  • 6 credit hours in English (3 hrs. in Writing, and 3 hrs. in Literature)
  • 9 credit hours in Social Sciences (which must include a History and a Psychology course)
  • 3 credit hours in either Fine Arts, Foreign Language, or another Social Science

  All courses must be 100 level or higher and the candidate must have earned a C or better for the course to be accepted. The FSU Graduate Catalog describes these courses in more detail on pages 25-26.

  Am I still eligible to apply for financial aid even if I receive the stipend?
  Yes, you are still eligible to apply for financial aid. Please visit the Financial Aid office Financial Aid for Graduate Student page for more information.

  Does the resident have the option to pick the school and mentor teacher?
  The program coordinator and district partners will take candidate circumstances and preferences for location and grade into consideration, but the final decision is based on the needs of the districts.

  Is the program in-person or virtual?
  The program will follow current district policy. If they are teaching in-person then you will be in-person, and if the district is remote then you will be teaching remotely.

• Teacher-Residency Benefits
  
  • Residents receive a living stipend of $30,000+ during the one-year teacher-residency program, to be paid monthly.
  • Upon successful completion of the program, residents receive a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree.
  • Residents will be eligible for teacher licensure through the Maryland State Department of Education upon successful completion of licensure requirements.
  • Residents will be eligible for consideration for a full-time teaching position in Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) contingent on degree completion with the year-long residency, successful reference and background checks, and an available position.
    
    Note: While the partner school district cannot guarantee the Teacher-Resident a teaching position, the Teacher-Resident will be well-positioned to be considered a competitive candidate in the hiring process. The hiring of the Teacher-Resident will be subject to the selection and hiring processes of the partner school district, and the Teacher-Resident is responsible for engaging professionally in district processes. Both partnering counties will be aware of the Teacher-Residents. The Residency county will have preference. If a position is not available in any of the program's partner counties, the Maryland Accelerates Residency Program personnel will request additional options through the Department of Education for other approved school districts.
    
    
  • As part of the District-provided induction support program, residents will be provided with support through professional development, mentoring/coaching, and micro-credentialing for recertification and career advancement.

• Meet The Maryland Accelerates Team
  
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    Dr. Jennifer Bishoff is an Assistant Professor at Frostburg State University in the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences as well as the Program Coordinator for the MAT-Secondary Program. She previously taught in Garrett County public schools for over 10 years before beginning her tenure at Frostburg State. Dr. Bishoff has a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from FSU, A Master’s in Chemistry from UNC Wilmington, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from WVU.

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    Dr. Fannia L. Boayue is an Associate Professor at Frostburg State University in the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences and serves as the Faculty Lead for the Maryland Accelerates Program.

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    Dr. Christina Durham is a Lecturer at Frostburg State University in the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences and serves as the Residency Lead for the Maryland Accelerates Program. She previously taught at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Harford County Public Schools, and Baltimore County Public Schools before beginning her tenure at Frostburg State. Dr. Durham has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Washington Bible College, A Master’s of Education from Regent University, and a Doctorate of Education from Liberty University.

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    Dr. Jodi Eirich is an Associate Professor at Frostburg State University in the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences and serves as the Teacher Leader Lead for the Maryland Accelerates Program. She previously taught at Garrett County Public Schools before beginning her tenure at Frostburg State.

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    Annika Many is one of the grant managers for Maryland Accelerates working through edBridge Partners. Annika has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and an MPA from Pace University.

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    Dr. Kris McGee is an Associate Professor at Frostburg State University in the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences as well as the MAT-Elementary Program Coordinator for the Maryland Accelerates Program. She previously taught at Washington County Public Schools before beginning her tenure at Frostburg State.

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    Rohit Tandon is one of the grant managers for Maryland Accelerates working through edBridge Partners. Rohit has a Bachelor of Science degree from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from Fordham Gabeli School of Business.

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    Dr. Kim Rotruck is the Associate Dean of the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences as well as the MegaCommunity Coordinator for the Maryland Accelerates Program.

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    Dr. Boyce C. Williams is the Dean of the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences as well as the Project Investigator for the Maryland Accelerates Program.