Para Pathway
What We Do
We help speed the process for people who want to teach by removing financial and other barriers to getting certified and working.
Program Vision
- Create new pathways into teaching by removing financial and other barriers to becoming an educator
- Speed up the process to become an educator while maintaining the rigor and quality
- Respond to the need for more teachers and a more diverse pipeline that mirrors the student population
- Invest in our communities by offering opportunities to Paraprofessionals who already work in our schools and support our students
- Is a true collaboration between PFT and SDP from the inception to supporting participants
Eligibility Criteria & How to Apply
- School District of Philadelphia employee appointed in a paraprofessional role (PFT Paraprofessional Bargaining Unit)
- No disciplinary action within the past eighteen (18) months
- An excellent record of attendance and punctuality during the last three (3) years (defined as no more than 18 occurrences of personal illness, excluding one extended period of illness and/or COVID-19 Directed Quarantine Leave)
- Meets the eligibility requirements of, is accepted into, and agrees to the terms of one of our partner programs
- Participants commit to working/teaching in the District for at least two years after the program
Think you’re eligible? Start your application by completing this eligibility screening form
Not a current District Paraprofessional? Apply here!
https://www.workinphilly.com/
Special Education Assistant
Bilingual Counseling Assistant
Note: Other roles are available!
Current Offerings
- Don’t have 60 college credits? Click here to check out Community College of Philadelphia’s free/reduced cost programs (no need to complete the para pathway eligibility form)
- Complete your Bachelor’s Degree: Eligible employees with at least 60 College Credits can apply to College Unbound’s program to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Change (40 slots available)
- Become Certified in Elementary PK-4: Eligible employees with a Bachelor’s degree and GPA below 3.0 can apply to LaSalle University’s program to obtain Elementary PK-4 and 5th-6th grade teacher certification (15 slots available)
- Join the SDP Teacher Residency in SY24-25: Eligible employees with a Bachelor’s degree and GPA above 3.0 can apply to the District’s Teacher Residency Partners to obtain middle and high school teacher certification in Elementary PK-4, English, Math, Science, Spanish and Special Education (20 slots available)
- Complete Student Teaching with Full Pay and Benefits: Eligible employees who are independently enrolled in a teacher certification program can apply to go on educational leave with compensation and benefits to complete their full-time, stage four student teaching. Employees will continue to receive their normal pay and benefits while they are doing their student teaching.
Additional Supports
- Tuition assistance
- Credit for prior experience/college credits
- Wrap-around services to support returning, working adult learners
- Peer cohort model
- Praxis/PECT support for those in teacher certification programs
Read about us in the Press!
- Love Your Today, Shape Their Tomorrow, featuring Carla White and Gemayel Keyes
- Opportunities for Professional Growth, featuring Hope McDowell and Gemayel Keyes
- SDP Storyteller Series Video
- Fox 29 Video Segment
- District Announces Additional Funding to Expand Unique Paraprofessional Pathway Program
- Philly starts program to train paraprofessionals to be teachers
- Recruiting the Talent Within: Philadelphia’s Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pipeline