School of Education Partner Programs
At Mary Baldwin, we partner with a variety of organizations to address the teacher shortage, help educators thrive, and positively impact schools and students. Through apprenticeships, grants, best-practice initiatives, and more, MBU’s School of Education is committed to removing obstacles and building bridges to a brighter future.
Empowering Tomorrow’s Educators
Federal & State Grants
MBU meets aspiring teachers where they are—saving them time and money on the degrees they need to excel in their careers. Through these grants, MBU can offer affordable routes to teaching licensure for students and paraprofessionals.
Partners:
- Charlotte County Public Schools
- Gloucester County Public Schools
- Hampton City Schools
- Middlesex County Public Schools
- Newport News Public Schools
- Pittsylvania County Public Schools
- Waynesboro Public Schools
Beneficiaries: Instructional aides in these school divisions
Description:
In 2025, MBU was awarded grant funds by the SAEF for a Grow-Your-Own Registered Teacher Apprentice Program. This grant, which covers all MBU degree-program expenses, was awarded to twelve individuals from seven Commonwealth of Virginia school divisions.
These individuals serve as apprentices in their school divisions while completing coursework at MBU online. All of the apprentices will graduate by June 2027 with a Bachelor’s and teaching license in Special Education General Curriculum K-12.
Partner: Newport News Public Schools (NNPS)
Beneficiaries: NNPS employees without an associate’s degree
Description:
This grant allows NNPS employees who do not have an associate’s to earn one for free by attending a local community college. Mary Baldwin’s Teacher Education Program is presented to these employees as a pathway to licensure, as required by the VDOE in the grant.
How it works:
- NNPS selects employees without an associate’s degree who wish to become licensed teachers
- These individuals earn an associate’s degree through an NNPS partnered community college for free
- MBU’s online Teacher Education Program is presented to these students as a pathway towards licensure. If accepted, they will earn a bachelor’s degree in two years and graduate ready to obtain teaching licensure according to Commonwealth of Virginia guidelines
Partner: Newport News Public Schools (NNPS)
Beneficiaries: NNPS instructional aides
Description:
The Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) grant allows NNPS instructional aides the opportunity to obtain a teaching license at MBU for free.
Grant recipients were chosen in 2024 to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education General Curriculum K-12.
Grant recipients will serve as apprentices in their school division while completing coursework at MBU online.
MBU helped me fulfill my dreams of becoming a Special Education teacher. Without their financial assistance and flexible coursework, I wouldn’t be doing what I love.
Mr. Special Education TeacherRegistered Teacher Apprentice, 2024
MBU Tuition Discounts
MBU is committed to shaping the next generation of educators. Through partnerships with school divisions and community colleges, MBU offers tuition discounts of nearly 50%, making sure cost isn’t a barrier to becoming an exceptional teacher.
Partner: Over 37 school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Beneficiaries: Employees in a partner school division
Description:
MBU’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) has partnered with over 37 school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia to help their employees obtain licensure or add-on endorsements.
Employees who enroll as online students at MBU receive a a nearly 50% tuition discount for undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
Commonwealth of Virginia employees interested in this partnership should fill out:
School divisions interested in partnering should fill out:
I’m so glad my school division partnered with MBU! I was able to get a degree on my budget, and expand my role as an educator in my school.
Mrs. TeacherTeacher in X School Division
Shaping Education
MBU doesn’t just train teachers—it shapes the very practice of teaching. These partnerships and initiatives put MBU in conversation with policymakers, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), and school accreditors to ensure our Teacher Education Program goes above and beyond expectations.
MBU was one of the first institutions to join with the VDOE’s CEEDAR program to support teacher retention and education in the Commonwealth.
This partnership:
- Creates evidence-based practices to ensure the best teacher education experience for Virginia’s Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) like MBU’s Teacher Education Program
- Mentors new teachers and educates pre-service and in-service teachers
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) has accredited MBU’s Teacher Education Program for initial and advanced level teacher licensure from May 2022-2029.
Mary Baldwin’s Teacher Education Program is also the recipient of CAEP’s 2022 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement.
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate sorority dedicated to empowering individuals in lifelong learning.
From this partnership, MBU’s School of Education students are able to connect with Kappa Kappa Gamma mentors. In addition to one-on-one training, mentees are invited to meetings and events held by the local chapter.
MBU is one of four higher education institutions and eight school divisions that make up the MidValley Consortium for Teacher Education. Together we are committed to building up Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) for better teacher education and assessment.
As members of this consortium, MBU’ School of Education stays up to date with the best practices for EPPs and top trends in teacher preparation. Additionally, the consortium produces policies, documents, and evaluation tools that develop and assess aspiring teachers.
VACTE is an organization focused on the preparation and continuing education of teachers and others in the field of education. As members of VACTE, MBU’s School of Education stays informed about new Commonwealth of Virginia policies and initiatives occurring in the field of education. MBU is involved in committees working on topics such as advocacy and policy, clinical practices, and DEI.
The Virginia Education Assessment Collaborative (VEAC) is an organization of Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) in Virginia, such as Mary Baldwin’s Teacher Education Program.
VEAC provides a centralized assessment structure and standardized data collection process for EPP improvement and accreditation. VEAC directly supports MBU’s School of Education by tracking the careers of graduates employed as teachers. This information is necessary for compliance with our accreditor, CAEP.
