Sub to certified teacher - Moreland's Teach Now program?

[Anonymous]

I am a sub with MCPS who is looking to do a career change to teaching. I have subbed this year to get experience in the classroom and make sure I like teaching before I make the leap. I have a bachelor's and a master's degree (not in education related fields) and have been looking at Moreland's Teach Now certification program. Is Moreland a respected way to get certified and does MCPS look favorably upon it and hire teachers certified through Teach Now? I saw that Moreland is a for profit institution which made me a little apprehensive. Moreland is faster and much cheaper than the master's route. Is it too good to be true?

[Anonymous]

Hi! Yes, it's very reputable. I was among the first teachers (I think #2 they told me!) to be hired as a Moreland U grad (formally Teach-Now) at MCPS. I sat in on the accreditation panels in the very early years of the University. It is legit! It will REALLY prepare you. I promise. Emily started the program as a way for people who want to enter the education field but do not have their certification. I thought I had to pay $5,000, but MCPS now pays for it! So unfair! Only get the cert - do not try and get pressured into the Master's - you already have one I see, but I can say that program is not worth it. I'm not 100% their degree has the same accreditation status as the certification. Anyway, the professors are phenomenal - when I went, I was in a cohort with teachers from all over the world. It was really interesting to learn from them. MCPS might have its own cohorts now - I went through the program back in 2014. You have to work really hard - it moves fast - but I felt very prepared and actually very knowledgeable using new digital tools and tech, especially when we switched to virtual back in 2020. I think you will like it! It's a great program. I do not work for them I promise! I am actually working on getting my Master's to go into school counseling, so that's my next step after teaching. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Where you get your certification won't matter even the tiniest bit. They'll take anyone.

[Anonymous]

You can apply for any teaching position at MCPS right now and get hired as a conditional teacher. You have 2-3 years to get your teaching certification and pass the Praxis test while working as conditional teacher and MCPS will pay for the Moreland TEACH-NOW tuition as long as you're teaching 0.5 FTE or above (teaching at least 3 classes). It's challenging to work full-time as a first-year teacher and taking classes though.