January 23, 2004

Columbus State Universitys College of Education will host an open forum for degree-holding professionals considering a career change to teaching.

The event will be held in the Davidson Student Center auditorium at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. For the fourth year, CSUs will present its Teacher Alternative Preparation Program .

The Georgia TAPP was created by the Professional Standards Commission to find qualified individuals to meet the critical need for teachers in the fields of math, science, special education, foreign language and English. It is estimated that 14,000 new teachers will be needed by 2006.

Teacher candidates are mentored and monitored as interns in K-12 classrooms. Upon successful completion of the two-year program, Interns are eligible for full certification. CSUs Department of Teacher Education reports that more than 60 professionals have gone through the program the past three years and are currently teaching in 10 area school systems.

For more information, call Charles Cumiskey, program coordinator at 565-7803 or e-mail Cumiskey_Charles@ColumbusState.edu