Caddo Teaching Academy extends application deadline for next cohort seeking certification

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Caddo has extended its deadline to apply for its Caddo Teaching Academy to May 15.

The teaching certification program offers an alternative, “fast track, streamlined and practical approach to job-embedded training” with the objective of placing an effective teacher in the classroom.

“I had a desire to be certified. I had a desire to work in Caddo Parish. After being exposed to this program and talking to other people about it, I just thought it would be the right fit for me to go this route,” Caddo schoolteacher Eumarcus Hicks said.

JOB FAIR

Caddo Public Schools is having a job fair and certification information expo from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday (April 27) in the gym at Broadmoor STEM Academy, 441 Atlantic Ave. in Shreveport You will also be able to get information on the Caddo Teaching Academy there.

Cassie Harwell, the academy’s project manager, said the program was started to help fill the gaps for teachers needed in the district. “We have a high need for teachers and we address and certify in only those high-need areas in our district. It allows us to grow our own.”

The program is free. Well, tuition is $6,000. However, those costs are waived as long as the participant teaches in Caddo public schools for at least three years after successful completion of the academy’s two-year program.

“One of the advantages we are proud of is if you complete that certification, that’s two years and then teach an additional three years in our district, it doesn’t cost the person anything for tuition,” Harwell said.

“The minimum requirement that you need to apply is that you have to have a bachelor’s degree in something other than education,” she continued. “Once you do that, you would have your PRAXIS exam for the content area that you are wanting to pursue and then you submit the application online to our website, we do a brief interview to make sure it’s a good fit for everybody and then courses start every summer.”

If the participant leaves the district before the five-year commitment is met, they will have to reimburse the remaining balance of the tuition to the school district.

Participants are required to pay for all PRAXIS exams and application fees for licensure.

Hicks said the program has allowed him to earn his certification to teach elementary education grades K-5 and make a difference in kids’ lives.

“I think that people need to understand that although it is a no-cost, the commitment level is required because it’s going to cost you to do something to go above and beyond,” he said. “I have a passion for kids regardless of where they’re from or what they experienced. I’ve been gifted with the ability to meet them where they are and bring them to a level where they can experience success.”

► CTA application checklist

Since 2015, more than 100 people have gone through the academy that currently certifies in:

• Elementary 1-5
• 4-8 English / Language Arts
• 4-8 Math
• 4-8 Science
• 4-8 Social Studies
• 6-12 English / Language Arts
• 6-12 Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• General Science

To qualify, candidates must have:

• a bachelor’s degree
• a minimum college grade-point average of 2.2
• attempted all content PRAXIS exams required for entry at least once within the past six months.

Also, they must be able to attend all of the following summer dates:

June 12-14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

June 20-21, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

July Dates will vary depending on the certification pathway.

Applicants must provide:

• their resume
• official college transcripts
• bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade-point average of 2.2
• PRAXIS content area exam results
• three letters of recommendation

Once all nominations are received, academy leadership will select candidates to participate in a ZOOM interview process during the week of May 22.

To learn more:

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