Paraeducators working in Michigan schools who aspire to become special education teachers can now achieve their goals through a new partnership between Mid Michigan College and Alma College.
“This partnership is representative of our commitment to collaboration and addressing Michigan’s ongoing shortage of special education teachers,” said Rick Smith, Associate Dean of Off-Campus Instruction at Mid. “By empowering paraeducators with the skills and credentials necessary to support students with disabilities, both organizations are dedicated to helping get more qualified teachers in classrooms around the state.”
Specifically designed for working adults, the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Program provides a streamlined pathway to special education teacher licensure, including financial supports and flexible scheduling options.
“We want to encourage paraeducators to contact us about this opportunity,” shared Beth Binder, Director of Admissions at Mid. “Investing in your education is a big step and resources like Michigan Reconnect and the Alma Paraeducator Scholarship are available to help students offset financial barriers.”
Michigan Reconnect covers in-district tuition and fees after financial aid funds have been awarded—significantly offsetting these costs for students. Michigan Reconnect is available to students 25 years of age and up who have a high school diploma but have not yet completed a college degree. For students who qualify, Reconnect can offset year one costs of the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Program. To determine eligibility for Michigan Reconnect, students must complete the Reconnect application and the FAFSA.
“Our team is available to help students apply for Reconnect and complete the FAFSA,” said Michelle McNier, Director of Financial Aid at Mid. “We know completing these applications can be a bit daunting, but we are ready to help every step of the way.”
Participants in the program may qualify for the Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship, worth up to $33,000 annually. This scholarship aims to remove barriers and make higher education more accessible to paraeducators.
“Alma’s commitment to financial support through the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship addresses a significant barrier that often hinders program completion,” Peggy Yates, Alma’s Director of Special Education Teacher Preparation, said. “This generosity toward supporting future special education teachers holds the potential to make a profound, positive impact on students with disabilities across the state of Michigan.”
Scott Mertes (Mid) and Sean Burke (Alma), Provosts of their respective institutions, sign the agreement.
“We are excited to offer this opportunity along with Mid and are grateful to all of those involved in seeing it through,” said Eric Blackhurst, Interim President at Alma College. “Paraeducators who are already working with students with disabilities are well suited to help fill these critical roles, but they need degree options that fit into their lives. That’s where Mid and Alma come in—removing barriers to provide a pathway for paraeducators to achieve their goal of teacher licensure.”
Peggy Yates, Alma’s Director of Special Education Teacher Preparation, collaborated with Amy Fisher, Dean of Business & Professional Studies; Rick Smith, Associate Dean of Off-Campus Instruction; and Kristin Simon, Registrar; all from Mid to develop the program, which is focused on removing barriers and embedding essential supports to help paraeducators succeed in earning teacher licensure.
“We are all committed to removing barriers through flexible scheduling, financial resources, and student-focused supports to help students succeed and achieve their goals,” noted Fisher.
Alma Representatives | Peggy Yates, Director of Special Education Teacher Preparation; Stephanie Terrian, Associate Registrar; Mariah Orzolek, Registrar; Tim Pinnow, Chief Operating Officer; Sean Burke, Provost
Mid Representatives | Scott Mertes, Provost; Amy Fisher, Dean of Business & Professional Studies; Steve Amidon, Dean of Arts & Sciences; Rick Smith, Associate Dean of Off-Campus Instruction; Kristin Simon, Registrar
This program provides a pathway for paraeducators to become special education teachers through a four-year program that includes student teaching.
- May 2025 -April 2026 | Students begin courses at Mid Michigan College along with a career development course at Alma College.
- June 2026 | Eligible students begin Alma College’s Mild to Moderate Disabilities major, the first stand-alone special education teacher licensure program in Michigan approved by the Michigan Department of Education.
“This allows future educators to focus exclusively on special education, earning endorsements in learning disabilities, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment,” shared Yates. “Paraeducators can continue to work full time, completing required clinical hours on the job as they prepare for student teaching.”
Students receive dedicated support from their Mid Mentor in year one and ongoing one-on-one guidance from Alma College faculty for the entire four years, including assistance with planning their first-year courses.
To accommodate the schedules of working paraeducators, the program offers year-round evening and weekend courses. In years 2 through 4, students need only to attend one weekend of in-person courses per semester, with all other courses held virtually.
Students who complete the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program while maintaining a 3.0 GPA can choose to continue their education through an accelerated Master of Arts in Special Education at Alma.
For more information on the Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Program, visit alma.edu/para-to-pro or contact Mid’s Admissions team at admissions@midmich.edu.
