Partnering to Lead and Empower District-Grown Educators
The NIU College of Education actively cultivates an equity-focused learning community that embraces diverse people, ideas and points of view. We are resolute in proactively meeting the changing educational and professional needs of students while advancing teaching, learning, research, practice and advocacy in our program.
Our PLEDGE initiative takes our licensure programs to where the potential students are – and where they are needed.
Through this residency model, we are creating new teachers and administrators among people whose life circumstances of work and family might have prevented them from earning degrees away from home.
We currently partner with districts to:
Our PLEDGE LEAP (licensed educator accelerated program) cohort format that incorporates a prior learning assessment so working educators can receive credit for past work experiences.
Our cohort-based Principal Residency Program prepares and promotes current members of your team who know and understand the local culture – and who want to stay and grow in it.
Our PLEDGE RISE (Rockford Inspiring School and Community Excellence) professional educator licensure program is designed for Rockford community members who are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from NIU.
This program is offered in partnership with RPS 205 and Grow Your Own Illinois, the grant-funding agency investing in RISE. This cohort model includes full cost of tuition, credit for past work experience, advising and completion coaches. Custom elective courses focused on the Rockford community are incorporated into the curriculum. Participating students commit to teach in RPS 205 for five years upon completion of the program.
If you are interested in learning more please contact Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson41@niu.edu or Vicci Gartner at vicci.gartner@rps205.com.