CSM Hosts Teacher Ed Open House
When Maria Estevez’s second-grade teacher asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up, Ms. Estevez already knew the answer: a teacher. The College of Southern Maryland alumna has not wavered on that decision.
“I always put teaching on the list and nothing else,” she said. “And I never changed my mind.”
Ms. Estevez graduated from North Point High School and then earned her associate degree in May 2016. When she was a student at CSM, she knew that after graduating she wanted to take affordable courses in elementary education and do her student teaching in Charles County. She also wanted to be able to work while she was in school.
She did not have to look far for a program that fit her needs. She is now on her way to earning a bachelor’s degree in education, and she is able to stay in Southern Maryland to do it.
CSM has partnerships with two major Maryland teacher preparation programs – Towson University and Notre Dame of Maryland University – to offer local access to all state requirements for teacher certification.
“Students are able to learn and grow as professionals in their communities,” said Elizabeth Settle, CSM professor and teacher education program coordinator. “The partnerships are a wonderful way to support local school systems in their efforts to grow their own teachers. Many CSM students have strong ties to the area and are well-suited to move into careers in the same systems where they completed their own education.”
Anyone interested in these programs can attend the teacher education open house from 6 to 7:30 pm Oct. 12 at CSM’s Prince Frederick Campus at 115 J.W. Williams Road.
Participants will learn about teacher education at CSM as well as certification pathways available in Southern Maryland. Students who are currently in and who have graduated from partnership programs will be available to answer questions, as will be representatives from CSM, Calvert County Public Schools and other CSM partner institutions including Notre Dame of Maryland and Towson.
Ms. Estevez is participating in the Towson 2+2 program that was originally created to meet the needs of students with family commitments that might prevent them from taking the traditional college route.
Even now, 16 years later, the program still appeals to students in a variety of situations.
“I was drawn to it for many reasons, most importantly so that I could student teach in Charles County, which allowed me to make early connections in my teaching career,” Ms. Estevez said. “Second, I would save a lot of money by staying at home, and I could keep my current jobs.”
The 2+2 program allows students to complete the first two years of their teacher preparation program at CSM. Then they apply to one of the partner institutions and complete the remainder of their program through that university but on a CSM campus, earning their bachelor’s degree and Maryland state certification, Settle said.
Also, student teaching and internships can be done in Southern Maryland schools.
CSM offers three teacher education degrees in early childhood education (birth to Grade 3), elementary education (Grades 1-6) and secondary education (Grades 7-12).
Ms. Estevez has done her teaching practicum in a third-grade classroom at William A. Diggs Elementary School in Waldorf and in first grade at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School in La Plata. She is currently in her first semester junior year and is on track to finish in 2018.
The open house at the Prince Frederick Campus will be held in Building B, Multipurpose Rooms 103, 104 and 105. To register online, visit here.
For more information, contact Settle at 301-934-2251 or [email protected].
For more about the College of Southern Maryland, visit their Leader member page.
