CSUMB and Hartnell College together created the Teacher Pathway Program in response to the serious teacher shortage facing California’s public schools, especially those in rural communities. The Teacher Pathway Program is designed to allow students to earn an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, and a teaching credential in four years.
The program uses cohorts of students who take classes together and develop a strong sense of community, then adds in services to help them stay on track, professional development opportunities to better prepare them for the classroom, and scholarships to help with non-tuition expenses. Perhaps most importantly, classes for the entire pathway are offered at Hartnell College’s King City Education Center, removing the significant barrier of transportation for aspiring South County teachers.
As students progress through the pathway they earn an Associate’s degree from Hartnell College, then transfer to CSUMB and complete a Bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. The fourth cohort of students began this fall, and so far the program has served 151 students, two-thirds of which are from South County. In the most recent cohort, 84% of students completed their Associate’s degree in two years and 97% completed in three years. The program’s early success led to new partnerships with Monterey Peninsula College and Cabrillo College to continue growing our own teachers in the Monterey Bay region.