Collaborative Celebrates 44 New Teachers and 10 Seeking Certifications in Special Education

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kent ISD, along with Ottawa Area ISD and Muskegon Area ISD celebrated 44 aspiring educators who completed their Teacher Residency program through West Michigan Teacher Collaborative (WMTC) and are now seeking teacher certification.  At a spring event at Frederik Meijer Gardens, the first  WMTC cohort concluded the program and will soon be leading classrooms in three counties in West Michigan. The event also celebrated ten WMTC participants who are seeking certifications in special education.

“We are so excited to celebrate these individuals who answered the calling to be a teacher,” said Mary Kay Murphy, Executive Director, West Michigan Teacher Collaborative. “WMTC is grounded in community, excellence and access, and is designed to equip both new and existing educators with the training, education, resources and support needed to thrive. We celebrate those on their way to becoming the teachers our students need and deserve.”

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative is set to open the next application process for their two programs in the first week of June. Programs offered are options for:

• people with a Bachelor’s degree who are looking to switch to a teaching career by earning a teaching certification
• current educators seeking additional credentials through advanced degrees

Both programs are tuition-free, with books and fees covered by WMTC.

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative  is made possible through a partnership with Grand Valley State University and in part through funding from the Proud Future MI Educator Grant, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and a $9 million appropriation in the state budget. All tuition, fees and supplies are covered for participants, and many will be eligible for stipends of up to $20,000.   

To meet a participant in this program on the pathway to becoming a certified teacher, please direct media inquiries to:

• Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist, joywalczak@kentisd.org or 906.632.6290. 
• Ben Kalb, Muskegon Area ISD Director of Communications, bkalb@muskegonisd.org or 231.767.7263 or 720.899.1529
• Michelle Ready, Ottawa Area ISD Associate Superintendent of Communications and Integrated Marketing, mready@oaisd.org or 616.738.8940 x 4093