CGCC’s teacher education program is a comprehensive teacher preparation program intended to serve students pursuing futures as teachers and as qualified paraprofessionals. Degrees and/or transfer pathways are offered in elementary, secondary, early childhood and special education. Largely a transfer program, emphasis is on foundation education courses which include field experience, development of a professional resume and philosophy, and an education portfolio. In addition, students can deepen their career focus with a number of general education courses such as Biology Concepts, First Year Composition, Introduction to Geology, and technology courses that offer specific sections available only to education majors. The instructional team of residential and adjunct faculty collaborates to plan for common goals and expectations, design effective learning experiences, and share knowledge of best practices aligned with Arizona’s Professional Teaching Standards. Transfer courses in education and general education are offered in a four-semester plan to facilitate fluid transfer to a university program. Classes at the Pecos Campus are offered at a variety of days and times to allow for flexible scheduling. CGCC’s Teacher Education Program enhances knowledge of teaching as a career and offers early preparation for teacher certification in Arizona to freshman and sophomore students. Prospective teachers have considerable choice in how and when they learn at CGCC.

• CGCC offers the following degree programs:
• Associate in Arts in Elementary Education (AA-EE)
• Associate in Arts with Special Requirements (AA-SR)
• Associate in Transfer Partnership Degrees in Elementary Education (ATP)

CGCC has established strong partnerships with local school districts and transfer institutions. A variety of options exist for both elementary and secondary education majors:

• Seamless transfer to ASU, NAU, and UA with the an AAEE
• A 2+2 partnership with Northern Arizona University offering a Bachelor’s in Elementary   Education degree right on CGCC’s Pecos Campus
• 2+2 programs with ASU at the Polytechnic Campus (formerly known as ASU East   Campus) in elementary education, special education, and early childhood
• A 2+2+2 collaboration with Chandler Unified School District designed for current CUSD   employees (teacher aides, office workers, parent volunteers, etc.) and ASU Polytechnic   evening students who wish to pursue certification for teaching
• A 2+2+2 collaboration with the Mesa Grow Your Own (MGYO) Program to provide fluid   teacher preparation from high school to community college to university

Certified teachers and paraprofessionals can benefit from continuing education at CGCC which offers a number of professional development opportunities for practicing teachers or for those working towards recertification.

An active Teachers of Tomorrow (T.O.T.) club, hosts many co-curricular and extra-curriculum events and speakers for students and members of the public, and provides leadership opportunities for future teachers.

To develop and maintain partnerships with university teacher education programs and local school districts, CGCC established The San Tan Teacher Education Partnership (STTEP) as a means to communicate with school partners and transfer program personnel, and to support an “across the continuum” approach to recruitment, instruction, and transfer of students pursuing careers in education. An annual meeting and special events gather teams of education professionals together to share information and articulate concerns and successes. In the fall semester, STTEP hosts the annual Counselors’ Day luncheon and recruitment program for high school counselors and career specialists from Maricopa County. Each spring, the STTEP Advisory Council meets with representation from ASU, ASU Polytechnic, NAU at CGCC, NAU Mountain Campus, and directors of induction and mentoring programs in the K-12 school districts in our local communities of Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Higley, Mesa, Tempe and surrounding areas. In the spirit of collaboration, ideas are shared about how best to provide future teachers with quality learning and school experience.