ELIZABETHTOWN – WGU North Carolina, an affiliate of online nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU), has signed an agreement with Bladen County Schools to help Teacher Assistants (TAs) advance their careers by earning bachelor’s degrees and teacher certifications. Bladen County Schools TAs who enroll in one of WGU North Carolina’s teacher-preparation programs will receive up to $800 in tuition credit per six-month term, after any Pell Grants have been exhausted, for up to three years.
TAs will have access to WGU career services resources and events, and WGU North Carolina staff will be available to participate in any virtual or in-person education/benefits fairs, seminars, and presentations offered by the school system.
WGU’s Teachers College is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Additionally, all Bladen County Schools employees are eligible to apply for WGU Institutional Partner Scholarships valued at $2,000 ($500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms). Tuition is around $3,250 per six-month term for most undergraduate degree programs.
“Our partnership with WGU North Carolina will provide an opportunity for Bladen County Schools to grow its own through the TA-to-Teacher program,” said Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor. “TAs are an integral part of the success of students; understanding the day-to-day running of a class, behavior management, and teaching demands, which can only be gained by experience within the classroom. Therefore, they are perfectly poised to take the next step in educational advancement to become a teacher. Teacher Assistants are an undervalued resource within education, but a Teacher Assistant turned teacher is something every school needs. And, because of WGU North Carolina, TAs will have the support they need to become certified teachers.”
“We are honored to have Dr. Taylor on our Board of Advisors and have seen firsthand his commitment to education,” said WGU North Carolina Chancellor Catherine Truitt. “This partnership will help Bladen County Schools gain more teachers by empowering TAs who want to take the necessary steps to earn their teaching license.”
Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, WGU’s competency-based learning model allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know, so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students complete their programs by studying with schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.
For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit nc.wgu.edu. For information about Bladen County Schools, visit www.bladen.k12.nc.us.
About Bladen County Schools
Bladen County Schools serves more than 4,400 students enrolled in six primary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools, including an early college high school. The school system’s staff of more than 300 educators and support personnel is dedicated to making Bladen County Schools a place where parents want to send their children, and where children want to be. For more information, visit www.bladen.k12.nc.us.
