Pathways to Teaching
Your dream of finishing your education, leading a classroom of your own, and earning more income is closer than you think. Thanks to the Rollins Pathways to Teaching program—a partnership between Rollins College and Orange County Public Schools—you can complete a bachelor of arts in elementary education and become a certified teacher while continuing to work as a paraprofessional.
The Pathway To Your Own Classroom
The 2½-year program enables you to continue working during the day and take classes in the evening at Rollins, where you’ll benefit from the Department of Education’s proven curriculum and a combined 225 years of experience among expert faculty. This innovative partnership between Rollins and OCPS is the solution to achieving the next step in your career and becoming a leader in your classroom.
Your Perfect Path to a Classroom of Your Own
The Pathways to Teaching program offers you a custom-made track tailored to fit your schedule and needs, building a pipeline of licensed, engaged teachers to the Title I schools that need them the most.
Designed to Fit Your Life
Pathways to Teaching offers a custom-made track tailored to fit your schedule and needs. Continue your work at OCPS during the day while attending class at Rollins two nights per week, focusing on one five-week course at a time.
A Top-Ranked Education
You’ll benefit from Rollins’ signature personalized learning environment, rigorous coursework, and expert faculty who prioritize your professional growth and model the skills you need to make an impact in the classroom.
Support Network
Rollins’ unique cohort model of instruction places you within a diverse community of paraprofessionals devoted to furthering their education and bringing their work as educators to the next level.
A Personalized Approach
Through our small, discussion-based classes anchored by hands-on activities, you’ll discover how best to help children learn new concepts and how to analyze effective teaching strategies through observation.
Essential Experience
Continue to earn income during the required internship component of the course, which provides a semester of hands-on teaching experience.
“I didn’t want to earn my education degree from just any college. I wanted substance, personal attention, and value, and I knew I’d get that at Rollins, where the faculty are so strong and there’s such a sense of community. The program exceeded my expectations and then some.”
Scholarship and OCPS Employee Benefits
• A $2,500 scholarship annually toward tuition from Rollins
• Textbooks and laptop provided
• Substitute provided during required teaching internship for applicants employed at a Title I school or stipend provided by Rollins College for non-Title I candidates
• Job prospects within OCPS as a Pathways to Teaching graduate
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Admission Requirements
- Hold an associate’s degree or have completed 60 credit hours of undergraduate study
- Must be employed as an OCPS paraprofessional or program assistant at a Title I school to receive program benefits
- A 2.8 GPA in previous undergraduate coursework guarantees admission but is not required.
Upcoming Information Sessions
Register for an information session to learn more about the program, meet with admission counselors, and get a head-start on your application.
Streamlined Admission
No application fee. No standardized tests required. No more excuses.