Manhattanville is helping teaching assistants throughout the Hudson Valley become certified classroom teachers through an accelerated, tuition-free pathway
Two years after receiving a nearly $1 million grant from New York State through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD), Manhattanville University’s School of Education is making progress in its effort to address teacher shortages and expand opportunities for aspiring educators across the Hudson Valley.
As of summer 2026, Manhattanville has reached the halfway point of its four-year Teaching Assistant to Teacher of Record: Investing in Our Local Workforce initiative, funded through a $997,439 award from New York State’s Education Workforce Investment: Alternative Teacher Certification Program.
The initiative was created through a partnership between Manhattanville University’s School of Education, the Rockland Teachers’ Center Institute, and Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES. The goal of the initiative is to help teaching assistants already working in schools transition into certified classroom teachers through an accelerated, cost-free pathway that leads to both a master’s degree and New York State teacher certification.
“The grant has enabled Manhattanville to create innovative pathways that help talented educators advance their careers while addressing critical workforce needs in our region,” said Brian V. Carolan, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Education at Manhattanville University. “We are proud of the progress made during the first half of the project and excited to continue expanding access to the teaching profession.”
The program prepares teachers in high-need subject areas while helping diversify the educator workforce in Rockland, Putnam, and Westchester counties. Participants receive full tuition and fee support, and benefit from a comprehensive mentoring and induction model designed to support their success in the classroom.
Expanding Pathways into the Profession
A key objective of the grant is the development of alternative teacher preparation pathways leading to Transitional B certification in high-need teaching areas. As of Fall 2026, Manhattanville will offer three Transitional B pathways:
- Childhood Education (Grades 1–6)
- Childhood Education (Grades 1–6) and Special Education (All Grades)
- Special Education (All Grades), a new pathway launching this fall
Preparing the Next Generation of Teachers
The first grant-supported cohort entered the program in Fall 2024. The cohort included four grant-funded students and two additional students enrolled in the newly created Transitional B pathways. Four students from that inaugural group are expected to graduate in August 2026, including two grant-funded participants and two non-grant-funded participants (two other grant-funded students transitioned into another School of Education certification pathway during their first year).
A second cohort of five grant-funded students began the program in Fall 2025 and is progressing into its second year. The third cohort, scheduled to begin in Fall 2026, is projected to include between nine and eleven students, making it the largest cohort to date.
For many participants, the grant has provided an opportunity that otherwise would not have been financially feasible.
One of the program’s first graduates, Leslie Maher, is completing her master’s degree in special education and childhood education while working as a fifth-grade math and science teacher in the Carmel Central School District in Putnam County. A former attorney who later worked as a teaching assistant and reading instructor, Maher said the scholarship she received made it possible for her to finally pursue teacher certification after years of putting her own educational goals on hold while raising four children.
“I love what I do. I’m incredibly happy,” said Maher. “It’s nice now to have the official stamp of approval that says, ‘New York State believes that you are capable of this job.’” She added, “There are so many people who work really hard as teaching assistants who are well educated and intelligent, but they just don’t get the opportunity to get their teaching certification. Whether it’s because of family obligations, a lack of money, or whatever it is, some of them can’t pivot into teaching, even though they would make amazing teachers. They know their program, they know the curriculum, they know the kids. It just makes sense to give people this opportunity to make their certification official.”
The grant also helped Melanie Marcario return to the classroom. She spent the early part of her career teaching in special ed programs in Westchester and Rockland County, then put teaching on hold while she raised her three children. As her children got older, she began to start teaching again, but Marcario never received her permanent teacher’s certification or obtained her master’s degree. Although she had earned an undergraduate degree in elementary and special education, the cost of returning to school had prevented her from pursuing the certification required to become a full-time teacher.
“Without the scholarship, I would not have done it,” Marcario said. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity.” Marcario credited the program’s flexible structure and remote classes with helping her balance work, family responsibilities, and her studies. Now, she’s teaching full-time in an autism program in Rockland County.
Strengthening Regional Partnerships and Looking Ahead
While the Teaching Assistant to Teacher of Record: Investing in Our Local Workforce initiative was initially designed around partnerships with Rockland Teachers’ Center Institute and Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, candidates affiliated with additional school districts and institutions can participate in the initiative as well; Manhattanville welcomes new partnerships in the endeavor.
The Teaching Assistant to Teacher of Record initiative was developed to address two pressing challenges facing schools throughout New York: shortages in high-need teaching areas and the need for a more diverse educator workforce. The anticipated outcomes include increasing the number of certified teacher candidates, strengthening support and belonging for new educators, and expanding the number and diversity of teachers serving local communities.
As the project enters its second half, Manhattanville remains committed to developing innovative solutions that strengthen the teaching workforce and support K–12 education throughout the region.