Building a diverse teacher workforce takes intentional effort but creates lasting benefits for our students.

Bilingual Teacher Pipeline Program

The Bilingual Teacher Pipeline Program provides financial and academic support for bilingual paraprofessionals already working in OKCPS to earn their teaching certification. Upon successful completion, the bilingual paraprofessionals become full-time teachers in OKCPS.

Participants’ books, tuition and certification tests are completely covered. We have four higher education partners: Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, Rose State College and University of Central Oklahoma.

How to Participate

1. Complete the Teacher Pipeline Programs Application and MOU and submit to mia@okckids.com.
2. Have your principal fill out our Teacher Pipeline Programs Principal Recommendation Form.

Note: Students enrolled in courses with clinical or observational hours need to complete these steps 30 days prior to the course beginning.

Eligibility

• Must be bilingual.
• Must be an OKCPS employee for a minimum of one year in a paraprofessional position.
• Must dedicate three years back to OKCPS once you become certified.

Diversity Teacher Pipeline Programs

OKCPS is committed to increasing diversity in its teacher ranks, because it improves outcomes for students. The Diversity Teacher Pipeline Program gives valued OKCPS employees the chance to finish college and earn their teaching certificate – with no debt – while staying employed full time.

How to Participate

1. Complete the application Teacher Pipeline Programs Application and MOU and submit to mia@okckids.com.
2. Have your principal fill out our Teacher Pipeline Programs Principal Recommendation Form

Eligibility

• Must be BIPOC.
• Must be an OKCPS employee for a minimum of one year and hold a paraprofessional position.
• Must dedicate three years back to OKCPS once you become certified.

OKCPS High School to Teacher Pipeline Program

As a way to fill the front of our pipeline and create a pathway for our graduates to become certified teachers, we are recruiting OKCPS high school students to apply for and join our Teacher Pipeline Programs. Download the flyer Here

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Complete the High School to Teacher Pipeline Programs Application and MOU and also submit to mia@okckids.com.
2. Have your principal fill out the High School to Teacher Pipeline Program Principal Recommendation Form

ELIGIBILITY

• Bilingual and/or BIPOC.
• Must be an OKCPS May 2023 graduate.
• Must be 18 years old by August 1^st
• Must have a 2.75 high school GPA.
• Must be hired as a paraprofessional in OKCPS by August 1^st
• Must dedicate three years back to OKCPS once you become certified.

*The High School to Teacher Pipeline Program is only offered in our traditional Oklahoma City Public Schools.

If you have questions or are interested in participating in the OKCPS High School to Teacher Pathway, please email Mia Rojo at mia@okckids.com.

Bilingual/Diversity Aspiring Administrators Pipeline Program

As a way to complete the pipeline we’ve added the Bilingual/Diversity Aspiring Administrators Pipeline Program. Oklahoma City Public Schools is a majority minority school district, but our teachers and leaders are predominantly white. In fact, out of 145 principals and assistant principals, only 49 are people of color and just ten of those are bilingual.

The Bilingual/Diversity Aspiring Administrators Pipeline Program is designed to provide funding and support for bilingual and BIPOC teachers in OKCPS to complete their Masters in Educational Leadership as a pathway to become leaders in Oklahoma City Public Schools.
There are significant amounts of data proving that student outcomes improve with exposure to teachers and leaders in the school building who look like them. From academics to role modeling – this is a really good thing for kids.

In addition, growing our own leaders is a very beneficial retention tool for our school district and provides a professional development pathway for strong teachers to grow their careers.

Principals are key levers for school improvement and school districts who have developed pipelines for leaders have had a great deal of success across the country. OKCPS has never had a program of this kind specifically focused on developing bilingual and diverse leaders.

Our higher education partner University of Central Oklahoma provides the instructional requirements for the MA in Educational Leadership that our participants earn. The program is developed as a cohort model which takes 16 months to complete. We’ve worked closely with OKCPS leadership on developing the eligibility requirements and they are involved in recruitment and selection of the participants.

If you are interested in learning more about the Bilingual/Diversity Aspiring Administrators Pipeline Program, please email Mia Rojo at mia@okckids.com.