ASU and NAU offering Teachers Academy at Eastern Arizona College

Photo By Lori Dugan: Eastern Arizona College is excited to partner with ASU and NAU to bring Governor Doug Ducey’s plan for an Arizona Teachers Academy to fruition this year.

By Lizzie Clonts

THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College is excited to partner with Arizona State University (ASU) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) to bring Governor Doug Ducey’s plan for an Arizona Teachers Academy to fruition this year.

Under the Teachers Academy program, any tuition costs not paid by scholarships or grants are waived for Academy candidates in exchange for their future commitment to teaching in select Arizona schools.

The Teachers Academy focuses on growing partnerships with local school districts in Arizona. Because students in the program often teach in the communities where they grew up, they bring a special perspective to the classroom, and a personal commitment to support local students.

“Our ‘Grow Your Own’ partnerships enable students to stay in their local communities to complete college, through great community college/university partnerships imparting the best teaching practices for high impact in school classrooms,” said President Rita Cheng from Northern Arizona University.

Students start by earning their associate degree at Eastern Arizona College, then attending with NAU for elementary education majors, or ASU for secondary education majors at the EAC campus in Thatcher to earn their bachelor’s degree from NAU or ASU. Students complete their practicum and student teaching at local partner schools and agree to teach in Title I schools after graduation.

Eligibility criteria for the Teachers Academy Scholarship program include:

*   Admitted to an undergraduate teacher education program leading to certification (must be their first bachelor’s degree).
*   Be in good academic standing.
*   Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current academic year.
*   Complete the TEACH Grant application and all other required steps for the TEACH Grant, available here.
*   Accept all eligible grant aid awarded.
*   Enroll in classes as a full-time student for each semester (fall and spring) the scholarship is awarded.
*   Agree to be a full-time teacher in a Title I school on a year-for-year basis.

Students interested in a degree in elementary education will want to apply for the TEACH Grant through EAC’s partnership with NAU at www.nau.edu/teachersacademy or contact the NAU Student Service Center at 800-628-0040.

Students interested in a degree in secondary education will want to apply for the TEACH Grant through EAC’s partnership with ASU at https://education.asu.edu/arizona-teachers-academy-at-mary-lou-fulton-teachers-college or contact Cindy Ballantyne the Director of Arizona Teachers Academy at ASU at cindy.ballantyne@asu.edu.