The Alternative Pathways Initial Teaching Licensure Program at George Fox University is one of the programs within the Educational Foundations and Leadership Department (EDFL) under the School of Education umbrella. Alternative Pathways was created in direct response to multiple requests from local school districts and Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) seeking help for candidates to meet Oregon teacher licensure requirements for particular individuals who represented one or more of the following criteria:
- Teacher Education training completed in another state or country
- Extensive training and teaching experience in an accredited private school setting
- Individuals trained in specific curriculum areas of need, such as Music, Foreign Language (Spanish, Russian, and Japanese), ESOL, Science, Advanced Math, etc.
- Individuals who have completed the majority of a Teacher Education Program but did not fulfill all of the licensure requirements at that time, such as student teacher practicum experiences.
George Fox University EDFL Department is approved by TSPC to offer initial licensure and endorsements and/or authorizations for pre K – grade 12.
The purpose of the Alternative Pathways Initial Teaching License Program is to provide qualified early childhood, elementary, middle level and secondary teachers for public and private schools. In direct response to district requests and an identified need for qualified teachers in Oregon schools, the Alternative Pathways Initial Teaching Licensure Program enhances the talent pool of candidates seeking licenses in Oregon. The admissions criteria are similar, but not identical, to that utilized by the MAT programs at George Fox University. The rigorous criteria for admission, when combined with the increased opportunities for theory and practice at the graduate level, provide excellent strategies for improvement in the quality of candidates seeking licensure.
Candidates entering the Alternative Pathways Initial Teaching Licensure Program are required to have developed a breadth and depth in their content knowledge during their undergraduate and sometimes graduate university experiences. This content background provides the foundation for the professional education courses and practicum experiences within this program.
As a Christian liberal arts university, faculty and students at George Fox University discuss moral and ethical issues within the context of a Christian worldview. The majority of licensure candidates teach in public education and are taught to adhere to the constitutional guidelines regarding the separation of church and state. However, like all teachers, they inevitably model their worldview by interacting with students, colleagues and parents in ways that are just and that demonstrate the value of each individual. The context of George Fox University as a Christian independent institution enables student to expand their viewpoints and to learn to model their awareness and appreciation for student diversity.
Judy Keeney
Coordinator, Alternative Pathways Program
Telephone: 503-554-2857
E-mail: jkeeney@georgefox.edu