Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy (BVP) and nonprofit, accredited Western Governors University (WGU) announced the signing of an agreement that creates pathways for BVP new teachers to earn a WGU School of Education bachelor’s or master’s degrees. As part of the agreement, BVP employees will be eligible to apply for the WGU K-12 Partner Scholarship in the amount of $2,500, which is disbursed in increments of $625 per semester for up to four terms based on satisfactory academic performance.
“At Blackstone Valley Prep, our staff’s development and professional growth is critically important to our success,” said CEO and Superintendent Sarah Anderson. “Our partnership with Western Governors University will allow us to develop an internal pipeline of diverse, highly effective classroom teachers — all in support of our mission to prepare every scholar for success in college and the world beyond.”
WGU’s Teachers College offers more than a dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees in K-12 education, including curriculum and instruction, education leadership, instructional design and special education. WGU’s competency-based, high-quality and low-cost learning model allows students to accelerate at their own pace. Asynchronous courses allow students to log in and study whenever their schedules permit. Tuition is around $3,600 per six-month term for most undergraduate degree programs, and students can take as many courses per term as they and their mentors are comfortable with.
“Partnering with Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy will make it possible for their employees to complete their degrees at a low cost, without disrupting their lives,” said WGU Regional Vice President Rebecca Watts, Ph.D. “After they are admitted and enroll at WGU, our online, competency-based model allows working adults to advance their careers, with personalized support from a faculty mentor.”
Watts continued, “At a time when we are facing a teacher shortage nationwide, and so many people are in need of higher education opportunities that align with their other responsibilities, WGU is thrilled to partner with BVP to provide higher education access for current and future educators.”
WGU degree programs include undergraduate and graduate degrees in teaching; educational leadership, human resource management, data management/data analytics, information technology management, business management and leadership, nursing and healthcare management. To learn more, go to www.wgu.edu.
