Gwynedd Mercy University has received a $20,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, and the Shapiro Administration to support future special education teachers.

The 2024-2026 Developing Future Special Educators (DFSE) Grant was awarded to local education agencies and institutions of higher education seeking to develop or expand upon experiential learning opportunities designed to prepare the next generation of special educators.

GMercyU is one of 77 institutions in the state to receive the grant for a two-year cycle, beginning this 2024-2025 academic year. The funds will be used to support experiential learning opportunities, including on-campus events and on-site visits to partnering intermediate units and school sites.

Pennsylvania is facing a major shortage of educators. A decade ago, roughly 20,000 teacher certifications were issued each year, while in 2021, only about 6,000 were issued. GMercyU is meeting this critical need head-on, with more than 725 education-related certificates earned by GMercyU undergraduate and graduate students in the last five years.

“Our undergraduate education program is very excited to have been awarded this grant,” said Dr. Patrick McAleer, GMercyU’s Certification and Placement Specialist. “We welcome this opportunity to work with local K-12 partners and other agencies to promote careers in special education to secondary students, so that Pennsylvania schools have a full pipeline of qualified and
certified teachers and specialists to work with our neediest students. Beyond this, we also want to share the ‘joy’ of working with children who have special needs with the next generation of college students.”

Earlier this month, GMercyU hosted its first event as a result of the grant. The event was designed to encourage high school students to pursue a career in special education and highlighted career options within special education, including teaching and educational specialists like speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and more. School districts that attended included
Wissahickon School District, Norristown Area School District, and Methacton School District.

GMercyU also plans to integrate a dedicated track of presentations and workshops for local students at its annual Autism Conference in April and invite students to participate in social activities with members of the community hosted by GMercyU’s chapter of Best Buddies.

“There is such a critical need for special educators in Pennsylvania, as this is in an area where the current shortage of certified teachers and specialists is most pronounced,” said Dr. McAleer. “Hundreds of positions for special education teachers, paraprofessionals, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and other related service providers continue to go unfilled in schools throughout the Commonwealth each year and must be staffed with non-certified individuals under emergency permits.”

Learn more about Gwynedd Mercy University and its more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and associate degree programs.

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