Western Governors University Ohio Offering $5,000 Scholarships to Help Teacher Paraprofessionals Upskill and Become Licensed Teachers
COLUMBUS, OH – As many Ohio school districts scramble to find long-term solutions to fuel their teacher pipelines, Western Governors University Ohio (WGU Ohio) is stepping up to offer a new scholarship to paraprofessionals who are currently working in a school district and are dedicated to becoming a teacher and making a positive impact in students’ lives.
WGU Ohio’s new Education Support Professionals Scholarship is worth up to $5,000. The scholarship is needs-based and qualifications are not restricted to academic achievement, making it a valuable opportunity for paraprofessionals to pursue their teaching degrees and become licensed teachers.
“As the nation’s largest teacher education institution, WGU is committed to supporting the education and development of teaching paraprofessionals who play a valuable role in our classrooms today,” said Dr. K.L. Allen, chancellor of WGU Ohio. “We’re hoping this new scholarship will help our local school districts address their teacher shortages and help paraprofessionals take their careers to the next level.”
Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, WGU’s competency-based, online education model allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students complete their programs by studying on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate that they have mastered subject matter. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress, saving both time and money.
Western Governors University was founded in 1997 by a coalition of 19 U.S. state governors as a way to offer their citizens – particularly adult learners – the chance to go to college from home, at their own pace, while holding jobs and caring for their families. In 2018, Ohio became the eighth additional state to partner with WGU to offer its degree programs in health and nursing, business, teaching, and information technology. Since that time, WGU Ohio as an accredited, nonprofit university has helped more than 9,000 Ohio students receive the education and skills they need to pursue in-demand careers.