The start of a new academic year is always exciting, but this year the Northern Arizona University Teachers Academy brings even more to celebrate.
We are offering a new pathway to bring teachers into Arizona classrooms, and providing a way for those teachers to follow their dreams tuition-free or with low cost options. Under the NAU Teachers Academy that Governor Ducey launched last year, we have established “Grow Your Own” partnerships that allow local school districts to host future teachers who stay in their communities throughout college and career.
Any tuition costs that are not paid by scholarships or grants are waived for Academy candidates, in exchange for their commitment to teach in Arizona schools when they complete their education.
Students teach in local schools to complete their practicum and then go to work to make a big difference in low-income schools in our communities. Because students in the program often teach in the area where they grew up, they bring a special perspective to the classroom and a personal commitment to support local students.
This is an exciting way to expand our ongoing impact on Arizona’s workforce, and I look forward to celebrating with the Lumberjacks who graduate from the NAU Teachers Academy.
I am also grateful to the partners who help us extend the power of education in other ways. Our work with the United Way of Northern Arizona’s LAUNCH Flagstaff initiative improves outcomes for all children from cradle to career, and the Achieve60AZ coalition brings together business leaders and education experts to open college pathways for more Arizonans.
For 119 years, NAU has played a key role in teaching Arizona’s teachers. Our local partnerships and our commitment to the NAU Teachers Academy proudly continue this tradition.
To be eligible for the NAU Teachers Academy Scholarship, students must:
- Be admitted to an undergraduate teacher education program leading to certification (must be their first bachelor’s in education degree)
- Be in good academic standing
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current academic year
- Complete the NAU TEACH Grant application and all other required steps for the TEACH Grant
- Accept all eligible grant aid awarded
- Enroll in classes as a full-time student for each semester (fall and spring) the scholarship is awarded
- Upon graduation, commit to teaching full-time one year in a low-income Arizona public school for each year the scholarship is awarded
For more information about NAU’s Teachers Academy, go to NAU’s Teachers Academy website www.nau.edu/teachersacademy.
By Rita Cheng
Rita Cheng is the president of Northern Arizona University.
