MIDWAY, Ky. — A central Kentucky university is looking to help combat a statewide teaching shortage by offering a new program.
Midway University recently added Kentucky’s Option 9 partnership with five school districts. Option 9 is an expedited way for someone to earn a teaching certificate.
Faye Deters has been the chair of Midway University’s education department since the fall of 2021, but has been preparing the educators her whole career.
Now, Midway University will offer Kentucky’s newest path to becoming a teacher through the Option 9 program.
“It allows students to work in a classified position in a school district so something like a para-educator. So they don’t have to take out more money, loans — they can keep working while they work on the degree,” Deters said.
Option 9 is a three-year route which results in a teaching certification and bachelor’s degree. Midway, as required, has partnered its program with para-professionals in five school districts; Harrison, Henry, Pulaski, Spencer and Trimble Counties.
Deters said prior to this, there was no other program geared toward someone interested in teaching that did not yet have a bachelor’s degree.
“They’re mostly rural districts where it maybe is a little bit harder to recruit teachers to come to those areas to teach so grow your own for them is a real advantage,” Deters said.
It’s another way Kentucky hopes to combat its teaching shortage crisis. Earlier this year, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) estimated there were around 11,000 teaching openings in the state’s schools.
Deters said Midway’s program is affordable and convenient for anyone interested in working at a partner district.
“Years ago, we took our program online to make it available for students or people interested in teaching across the state of Kentucky. We do have candidates in that online program from all over,” Deters said.
Ellen Bloomfield, the dean of Arts and Sciences, says it’s another way to put Midway on the map while sticking to its roots with its founder L.L. Pinkerton.
“It brings me immense joy that Dr. Deters and I are able to strengthen that connection between public education and Midway University that Dr. Pinkerton started for us in 1847,” Bloomfield said.
This program speeds up the path for future educators.
“Your traditional program is going to be at least four years and most students take longer to be honest, so this is just a quicker route,” Deters said.
In February, Eastern Kentucky University was the first public university in the state to get an accredited Option 9 program.
Midway offers elementary and secondary education options with a choice of in person or online classes.