Pictured from left are representatives of Alma College; Peggy Yates, Stephanie Terrian, Mariah Orzolek, Tim Pinnow and Sean Burke; along with representatives from Mid Michigan College; Scott Mertes, Amy Fisher, Stevens Amidon, Richard Smith and Kristin Simon; at a signing between the two institutions Jan. 31.

ALMA — Paraeducators working in Michigan schools who aspire to become special education teachers can now achieve their goals through Alma College’s newly launched Bachelor of Arts program.

Specifically designed for working adults, the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program provides a streamlined pathway to teacher licensure while accommodating the schedules of full-time paraeducators. The program has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission.

Participants in the program may qualify for the Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship, worth up to $33,000 annually. This generous financial support aims to remove barriers and make higher education more accessible to dedicated paraprofessionals who are already working closely with students.

Peggy Yates, Alma’s director of special education teacher preparation, collaborated with Mid Michigan College faculty and staff; including Dean of Business and Professional Studies Amy Fisher, Associate Dean of Off-Campus Instruction Rick Smith, and Registrar Kristin Smith; along with Alma College staff and faculty to develop the program, which is focused on removing barriers and embedding essential supports to help paraeducators succeed in earning teacher licensure.

The program is part of Alma College’s commitment to addressing Michigan’s ongoing shortage of special education teachers, said interim president Eric Blackhurst. By empowering paraeducators with the skills and credentials necessary to support students with disabilities effectively, Blackhurst said, the college is helping get more qualified teachers in classrooms around the state.

“We are pleased to offer this program at Alma College, along with Mid, and grateful to Dr. Peggy Yates for her work in seeing it through,” Blackhurst said. “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 Alma College comes in—removing barriers to provide a pathway for paraeducators to achieve their goal of teacher licensure.”

Yates led development the program based on her collaborative research and publication, which is focused on removing barriers and embedding essential supports to help paraeducators succeed in earning teacher licensure.

“Alma’s commitment to financial support through the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Scholarship addresses a significant barrier that often hinders program completion,” Yates 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.”

Alma College provides a streamlined pathway for paraeducators to become special education teachers through a four-year program that includes student teaching. In May 2025 through April 2026, students will begin selected courses at Mid Michigan College, supplemented by a career development course through Alma College. For students who qualify, financial assistance through Michigan Reconnect may be available to cover Year 1 costs.

“This partnership is representative of our commitment to collaboration and addressing Michigan’s ongoing shortage of special education teachers,” Smith said. “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.”

In June 2026, eligible students will 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 program allows future educators to focus exclusively on special education, earning endorsements in learning disabilities, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment, and to complete other graduation requirements in the final three years of the timeline. Paraeducators will continue to work full time, completing clinical hours required for the program while on the job, leading up to student teaching.

Students will receive ongoing one-on-one guidance from Alma College faculty for the entire four years, including assistance with planning the selected classes in the first year. To accommodate the schedules of working paraeducators, the program offers year-round evening and weekend courses. Students need only to attend one weekend of in-person class per semester on Alma College’s campus, with all other courses held virtually.

Completers of the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program who maintain a 3.0 GPA can choose to continue their education through an accelerated Master of Arts in Special Education.

For more information on the Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Program, visit alma.edu/para-to-pro or call (989) 463-7139.