Choctaw Times

Feb
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2020

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Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
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Choctaw Times

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Walters Herald

Feb
EPIC announces c
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2020 UTeach program to complete the American Board
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OKLAHOMA CITY – EPIC the Oklahoma State School WLÀFDWH8SRQUHFHLYLQJWKHLU fe
Charter Schools, the state’s Boards Association, the five-year Standard Teach- a
largest charter school and state’s special education LQJ &HUWLÀFDWH SDUWLFLSDQWV t
third-largest public school student-to-teacher ratio is will apply to have the SPED in
system, announced today its nearly 23 to 1 because Special (mild/moderate) designation
state-approved UTeach Pro- Education teaching positions attached to their standard o
gram. The program will fast- DUHDPRQJWKHPRVWGLIÀFXOW FHUWLÀFDWH7KH\ZLOODOVREH p
track professionals with a WRÀOO encouraged to continue learn- t
bachelor’s degree - but not in UTeach qualifying appli- ing by pursuing graduate c
HGXFDWLRQWREHFRPHFHUWLÀHG cants must have a four-year level coursework in Special L
special education teachers in degree in any major from an Education.
Oklahoma. accredited college or univer- “Anyone looking for a S
UTeach allows partici- sity, earned a 2.75 cumula- new and worthwhile career a
SDQWVWKHÁH[LELOLW\WRFRQWURO tive GPA, and pass a state should consider serving spe- w
their own schedules while criminal background check. cial needs children and apply a
paying them competitive They will begin training and WR (3,& 87HDFKµ %DQÀHOG w
compensation, including employment on July 1, 2020 said. “It’s a real opportunity h
full health and retirement by participating in EPIC’s to make a difference in the o
EHQHÀWV DQG ERQXV SRWHQ- state-approved Special Edu- lives of so many.” in
tial. Those accepted into the cation Boot Camp. The train- Detailed information T
program will be paid a salary LQJLV ÀYHDQGD KDOIZHHNV regarding the multiple s
while they are in training. of specialized training in the phases and requirements a
“It’s not a secret that education of special needs of UTeach participants can is
Oklahoma has a shortage of students and will be a mix of be found at: https://epiccha-
quality educators, especially online, collaborative sessions rterschools.org/uteach.html.
in such all-important areas DQG ÀHOG H[SHULHQFH  $IWHU EPIC serves approximate-
as special education,” said the boot camp, participants ly 30,000 students statewide
EPIC Superintendent Bart will take the Special Educa- and currently employs more
%DQÀHOG´$W(3,&ZHSUL]H tion OSAT (mild/moderate) than 1,400 staff in every
innovation and decided to put test. county across the state. For
it to work for our students Following completion of more information, visit www.
with special needs by creating the Boot Camp, participants epiccharterschools.org.
DQ HIÀFLHQW SDWK IRU DGXOWV attain a one-year Provisional
with a passion to become 6SHFLDO(GXFDWLRQ&HUWLÀFDWH
teachers to work where they and will begin serving EPIC
are needed most.” students with the support
According to the most of an EPIC mentor. Simul-
*5$**0218
recent data (2019) from taneously, participants will 66+(5,'$1

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