The Maryland State Department of Education in August awarded Dean of the School of Education Barbara Marinak, Ph.D., a $297,000 Maryland Elevates grant. The grant will be used to further Mount St. Mary’s University’s Grow-Your-Own initiative.
The Grow-Your-Own initiative, originally funded with a Maryland Leads grant in 2022, is a response to Maryland’s shortage of special education teachers. This important work with Frederick County Public Schools will continue with Maryland Elevates.
“The online program will serve conditionally certified educators and paraprofessionals, who will participate in a rigorous certification and coaching program in special education. This program is designed to grow expertise and resiliency by offering dual certification or triple special education certifications, including elementary education/special education and elementary education/special education/early childhood education,” Marinak explained.
The Mount has been offering instruction in the field of education for over a century, preparing students for every level of education through traditional and adult undergraduate programs, as well as master’s degrees and graduate certificates. The Mount’s rigorous, evidence-based academics, coupled with excellent professors and mentors and an emphasis on ethics and character formation, make the university’s program especially suited to prepare special educators. Special education is a strength of the teacher preparation programs at the Mount due to the knowledgeable and dedicated faculty as well as the strong partnership with Frederick Country Public Schools.
“The Mount’s special education program and professors comprehensively equipped me for my career,” shared Christen Zuvich, C '23. “In addition to a thorough understanding of the roles taken on by special education teachers, the Mount instilled in me qualities and attitudes that are vital to appropriately meet the needs of students and help them reach their highest potential.”
Zuvich, who studied elementary education with a certification in special education, now works as a special education teacher at Crestwood Middle School, which is part of the FCPS system.
“We are pleased to continue this important work with the Maryland Elevates grant. Like MD Leads, this Grow-Your-Own initiative grounds our teacher candidates in the Mount’s rigorous coursework, field experiences, internships and ethical practices,” Dean Marinak said. “Maryland Elevates will ensure conditional teachers and paraprofessionals in FCPS become highly qualified special educators prepared to positively impact student learning for many years to come.”
The State of Maryland designed the Maryland Elevates Grant Program to fund services that improve the outcomes and livelihood of children with disabilities and their families.
The efforts of dedicated faculty like Marinak, both in big initiatives, like securing the Maryland Elevates grant, and the everyday tasks of mentorship and instruction, make the Mount a place where students have the opportunity to live in service to God and their communities.