Professionals jumpstart rewarding teaching careers via College’s Transition to Teaching program

Becoming an educator is a great way to impact the lives of young people, make a difference in a subject or field, and practice lifelong learning.

Many teachers start their training in college and begin their teaching careers after graduation, but according to the  National Center for Education Statistics, 18% of public-school teachers enter teaching careers through an alternative route to certification. Transition-to-teaching programs are one way professionals who already have a bachelor’s degree in the subject they want to teach can learn teaching fundamentals and move towards teaching licensure.

The Purdue University College of Education Transition to Teaching (TTT) program was designed to help students with a bachelor’s degree make the transition to a teaching career, even if they have no prior teaching experience. The program, which is offered online and in-person, provides a pathway for initial teaching licensure in Indiana for prospective teachers who already have subject matter expertise in a given area. Students leave the program prepared to begin full-time teaching careers in a subject of their choice.

“Purdue’s TTT program gave me the confidence to pursue and begin my teaching career,” said Ryan Freeman, an English teacher at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana. “It supplied me with the foundational pedagogical knowledge I need and will continue to rely upon in order to make meaningful decisions in my planning and instruction. Once I completed the program, I was rewarded with the knowledge and the belief that I could overcome whatever this challenging profession would send my way.”

Because the transition to a teaching career can be challenging, Purdue’s TTT program gives students expert mentorship and plenty of flexibility. The online option allows students to continue working while they pursue teaching licensure. Students take courses at a time that works for them and can pursue secondary subject areas in addition to their main subject area.

“I am convinced Purdue has one of the best TTT programs in the nation,” said Josie Heidlage, a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. “The staff is very timely with their communication. I never had a question unanswered for over a day. Additionally, all of my professors had such rich and diverse experiences that influenced their teaching and made me more compassionate, empathetic, and equitable.”

Students who enroll in the TTT program can complete their coursework in as little as 12 months. Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer so students can work through the program and begin their teaching careers quickly. After completing the program, students will be prepared to start teaching in an Indiana K-12 school.

“The biggest thing about the program is the flexibility,” said Matthew Lindelien, a physical education teacher in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “You are able to get your workload for a whole week at the beginning of the week, and you can work at your own pace to complete the assigned weekly tasks. The teachers are great with feedback and have a quick response time if you have questions.”

“The program pushed me out of my comfort zone but made me a better person because of it,” said Lindelien. “It challenged the way I think about teaching, and for that I’ll forever be grateful.”

TTT program information: https://education.purdue.edu//undergraduate-students/current-students/licensure/transition-to-teaching/