2daaee5b-fb0c-42c8-9157-dd6b9ca2d180 image

Next Stop: TeachUCPS announcement

Union County Public Schools is excited to announce Next Stop: TeachUCPS, a teacher pipeline program for students and teacher assistants in partnership with Wingate University and South Piedmont Community College (SPCC). This new strategy will help UCPS to grow its own teachers and provide a roadmap that removes financial barriers to pursuing a teaching license.

If you missed the announcement, click on the image below (or click https://www.facebook.com/ucpsnc/videos/910879090094529), which includes testimonials from students who are participating in the pilot academy!

Teach UCPS pathways

Next Stop: TeachUCPS has four pathways—three for high school students and one for teacher assistants.

Students can begin taking classes in ninth grade, earn an associate’s degree from SPCC and then enroll in the Road to Wingate program to earn a college degree.

Teacher assistants can follow a similar path to become a certified teacher.

In addition to classes, the pathways will provide internships and field experiences for students. Currently, UCPS is offering the traditional pathway at Weddington High School. Students are receiving hands-on experience by working with teachers and students at Weddington Elementary School and Weddington Middle School.

Through this pathway, students will have the opportunity to participate in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) internship and work on lesson planning with staff, attend planning meetings on teacher workdays and teach small or whole-group lessons. This same pathway will expand to Porter Ridge High School in the 2023-2024 school year.

What are the pathways and

the benefits of each?

Associate's Pathway

Available to all UCPS high school students
Beginning in ninth grade, students complete aggressive dual enrollment program in partnership with SPCC
Students exit high school with a diploma and Teacher Preparation Associate’s degree
Zero tuition for associate’s degree
Gateway to Wingate Scholarship = no more than $2,500 per year

Pre-Apprentice Pathway

This option is currently a CTE pathway at Weddington High School with plans to expand to Porter Ridge High School in 2023-2024
Students register as Teacher Pre-Apprentice
Students may be hired by UCPS upon graduation as a teacher assistant and register as an apprentice
Students attend SPCC to complete their Associate’s degree and then attend Wingate University to complete their Bachelor’s degree within four years
Zero tuition for associate’s degree
Gateway to Wingate Scholarship = no more than $2,500 per year

University Pathway

This option is currently a CTE pathway at Weddington High School with plans to expand to Porter Ridge High School in 2023-2024
Students complete CTE program, Teaching as a Profession and attend a four-year university of their choice
May transfer up to seven credits directly to a four-year university
Become a classroom teacher four years after high school graduation
Student incurs cost

Teacher Assistant

Earn an associate’s degree from SPCC
Gateway to Wingate scholarship
Become a classroom teacher in two to four years after earning a bachelor’s degree
Zero tuition for associate’s degree
UCPS scholarship—UCPS pays up to $2,500 per year

I'm interested, what do I do?

Interested students: Contact your school counselor, visit ucpscte.org and review the UCPS Program of Studies.

Interested Teacher Assistants: Contact the UCPS Human Resources Department at recruitment@ucps.k12.nc.us or Sandra Leyva at Wingate University at s.leyva@wingate.edu.

Union County Board of Education discussion

Watch the Union County Board of Education discussion from Feb. 7 regarding Next Stop: Teach UCPS. Scroll to 20:54 for the start of the presentation.

Watch discussion

9d2a6ecd-0f51-4435-b430-b99a29073cd2 image

Connect With Us