Paradise Valley Community College and the Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) recently celebrated 10 years of the schools’ mentorship partnership. The program, Volunteer in Paradise College Corps (VIPCC), enriches the field service experience of students in PVCC’s Education program. More than 500 PVCC students and about 50 PVUSD educators representing 320 classes have benefitted from the impact of the VIPCC program.
“Our 10 year partnership has yielded so many benefits for PV Schools students and teachers,” said VIP Coordinator Marisha Geraghty. “Our students have been inspired by college students who mentor them while serving in their classrooms each week, and our teachers have the opportunity to share their passion for the teaching profession while benefiting from additional support in their classroom. As a result of the strong relationships forged, VIPCC has created a viable and preferred teacher pipeline for our district.”
“We are so excited to build upon our partnership as we launch the new Teacher Education Preparation Program (TEPP),” said Meggin Kirk, PVCC Education program director. “The wide range of experiences and opportunities provided to PVCC’s teacher candidates in this structured environment allow for growth not only in the classroom but also additional programming including Literacy and STEAM nights, professional development opportunities, parent-teacher conferences, and more.”
A PVCC instructor and VIP coordinator work cohesively to create impactful field service opportunities for students that include:
● Orientation that familiarizes college students with PVUSD Schools
● Field trips to selected PVUSD schools
● Access to PVUSD schools Center for Teacher Development (CTD)
● Documentation of vetting of college students
● Matching of college students with mentor teachers
● Mid and end semester check ins with college students
● Invitation to district events to provide insights into a career in education
● Letters of recommendation for employment
PVCC Launches Bachelor’s in Education
In fall 2023, PVCC will launch its first two four-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees - Kindergarten through Eighth Grade General Education Teaching and Kindergarten through 12th Grade Special Education Teaching.
The VIPCC program is an essential component of PVCC’s success. Students can now begin and end their degree at PVCC, receiving flexible and affordable classes with personalized support. They can also receive the required practicum hours designed to accommodate students’ hectic lives with Instructional Assistant Flex positions offered through PVUSD, enabling students to easily complete their field experience requirements.
To learn more, visit our website or contact meggin.kirk@paradisevalley.edu.