Metropolitan Multicultural Teacher Education Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The Metropolitan Multicultural Teacher Education Program (MMTEP) specifically serves the needs of diverse students in Milwaukee’s public schools. Using the Star Teacher Pre-Screener to gauge applicants’ commitment and readiness to teach in challenging multicultural schools, the program recruits a high percentage of minority candidates who are currently paraprofessionals into a post-baccalaureate alternate route. The program involves a short course of summer training, followed by placement as teachers of record and a year of collateral coursework and mentoring leading to certification and a guaranteed teacher contract in the Milwaukee Public Schools after program completion. Candidates are prepared to not only teach their subject but also to understand how to work with students’ families and a broad range of professionals to respond to the social, health, and emotional needs of their students. The program focuses heavily on learning to teach students with differing abilities and needs, including English language learners.