Teaching Bridge Program

Learn and Earn

The WSU Tri-Cities Teaching Bridge program is unique opportunity for students interested in careers in teaching to:

  • have support during the college application and financial aid process as high school seniors
  • gain early admission to WSU Tri-Cities
  • learn as a cohort and take unique support classes
  • participate in paid cooperative internships in local school districts during their first two years of WSU Tri-Cities. Students typically work as a part-time substitute paraeducators in partner districts.
  • early enrollment as a First Year Student in popular classes
  • access mentorship opportunities
  • get a competitive edge by building skills through hands-on learning in the classroom and on the job

To participate in Teaching Bridge, students must apply and be admitted to WSU and then apply to the Teaching Bridge program.  The program is a partnership between WSU Tri-Cities, area school districts, ESD 123, and community-based organizations.

Pathway from high school student to elementary school teacher

High School Senior Checklist

*For scholarships, you must apply and be admitted to the University by May 1.

Year 1

  • Start classes at WSU Tri-Cities
  • Begin work as a substitute paraeducator

Year 2

Year 3

  • Be admitted into the Alternative Route Program
  • Work as a full-time paraeducator
  • Continue education full-time (competency-based curriculum: show you know it, document it, and get credit for it.)

Year 4

  • Work full-time as a paraeducator
  • Complete student teaching
  • Graduate with a degree in Elementary Education and with two endorsements in either English Language Learners, Bilingual Education, and/or Special Education
  • Apply for a job as a teacher

Courses

As part of the Teaching Bridge program, students are automatically enrolled during the Fall of their first year in University 104, a special support class to help them transition successfully into WSU Tri-Cities. Students also have reserved seats in popular classes for required education prerequisite courses as well as early access to courses in the Education department. Each student will work with an academic advisor to create a personal plan of study.

The academic courses in science, English, mathematics, social sciences, and arts you will take during the first two years of Teaching Bridge provide students with the broad foundation of academic content needed to teach the subject matter in the K-8 curriculum in Washington State. The Teaching and Learning courses provide the broad foundations for the field of education and provide context to the experiences on the job. During the first two years of the Teaching Bridge Program, in addition to the UCORE classes students have the opportunity to take the following classes:

Explore how to successfully navigate college; topics include student identity, cultural lenses, academic skills, university resources; utilizes a collaborative learning environment.

Internship

Teaching Bridge students participate in an internship working in partner school districts. Most often, this is the district where the student graduated high school.  Students must fill out and complete the job application form on the District website and complete all requirements for district hiring, including fingerprinting. Students may indicate a preference for a school to work at, but there are no guarantees. Consideration will be given to transportation constraints whenever possible.

Certificates

Students will earn a B.A. in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Elementary Education and a secondary endorsement of the student’s choice area in:

  • English Language Learning
  • Bilingual Education
  • Special Education
  • Middle-Level Math
  • Middle-Level Science

Students who are multilingual may also earn a Dual Language Pathway Certificate.

Paying for your education degree

There are several ways students pay for their education degree. These are primarily through financial aid, grants, scholarships, and work. It is very important that you fill out the FAFSA or WSAFA and then the WSU Scholarship application (due January 30). The College of Education Financial Aid and Scholarships page has many helpful links to get you started. Also, you can apply for the many community scholarships that are in our region.

Washington State also has several options for conditional scholarships for future teachers. Washington State Educator Workforce Program (EWP) provides financial aid to attract and retain teachers to work in subjects or locations of high need known as shortage areas. These funds are conditional scholarships, which means that they are loans that are forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as a certificated employee in an approved education program. You can apply for these scholarships once you are admitted into the education major.

After graduation with your education degree, many new teachers can participate in the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. If you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500.

Contact us

photo of Danica Garcia
Danica GarciaProgram Coordinator
509-372-3766
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