July 10, 2025

by Lauren Ferguson

For teaching assistants called to become teachers themselves, Ramapo College of New Jersey’s TA to Teacher program has been life changing.

The program, launched in 2022 to help fill the critical shortage of qualified teachers in New Jersey, taps into teaching assistants and paraprofessionals already serving in the classroom, giving them a clear, accelerated pathway to a teaching certificate, higher salary, and even a Master’s degree, without having to leave their jobs. Students in the program complete their student teaching right in their same schools, while still earning their salaries and benefits.

“This program allows them to earn and learn at the same time,” explained Dr. Adam Fried, assistant dean for teacher education at Ramapo.

Fried is also a member of Gov. Phil Murphy’s Task Force on Public School Staff Shortages in New Jersey that was tasked with developing “recommendations to address teacher and education support professionals shortages in school districts across the state.”

In response to the Governor’s call to action, Ramapo successfully partnered with two public school districts – Bergen County Special Services (BCSS) and Morris Union Joint Commission (MUJC) – to enroll teaching assistants in the program.

“The MUJC Board of Education lauds the program as a clear and efficient pathway for talented TAs to become certified teachers,” said Dr. Janet Fike, Superintendent of MUJC.

Through the program, students earn their certifications to teach elementary or secondary education, and can choose to go on to earn their Master of Arts in Special Education. The initial success of the Ramapo initiative has led to big accolades, aimed at expanding its reach.

Crystal Caesar was a teaching assistant in Hackensack, NJ, before being offered a teaching position in the district. 

A Registered Apprenticeship Program

The program – also available to teaching assistants in other school districts – recently achieved the status of a Registered Apprenticeship program from the U.S. Department of Labor, opening the door to grant funding.

It was awarded a $440,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Education to establish a scholarship-based program designed for teaching assistants – who have earned at least an associate’s degree and hold a substitute teaching certificate – to become teacher apprentices.

“If you meet the requirements, and you want to work really hard because it’s an accelerated program, we’ve got funding for you to make your dreams come true,” Fried said.

The scholarship program will help with the cost of education and offer supplies, materials, and technology, such as laptops, online courses to accommodate busy schedules, personalized learning plans, and access to mentorship and coaching from experienced educators.

The initiative will provide invaluable practical training experience and skill development for teacher apprentices, while simultaneously supporting students in the classroom, toward earning their Bachelor of Science degrees to become certified teachers, according to Fried.

Registered Apprenticeship programs have been lauded by the Trump administration, which has set a goal of establishing 1 million new active apprentices.

“Registered Apprenticeships are a vital tool for skills development, national economic competitiveness, business growth, and individual opportunity,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said when announcing grants to increase the capacity of Registered Apprenticeship programs throughout the country.

Ramapo’s TA to Teacher program, which graduated its initial cohort of students in 2024, was the first of its kind in New Jersey, according to Dr. Julie Norflus-Good, director of Ramapo’s TA to Teacher program as well as the college’s Master of Arts in Special Education.

“This program is a testament to our commitment to providing innovative solutions to pressing educational challenges,” said Norflus-Good. “By equipping teacher assistants with the necessary skills and knowledge, we are not only addressing the teacher shortage but also nurturing a new generation of highly qualified educators,” Norflus-Good said.

The program improves outcomes for children while also creating higher paying jobs and increasing the social mobility of graduates who go from earning a teacher assistant salary to a full-time teacher salary.

Dr. Julie Norflus-Good, right, poses with graduates who earned their Master of Arts in Special Education through the TA to Teacher program.

A Fit for Real Lives

For people like Taylor Holeczko ‘25, who realized she wanted to be a teacher almost immediately after becoming a teaching assistant, the program, and its timeline, has been a perfect fit.

“The whole thing, including my Master’s was two years,” said Holeczko, a paraprofessional in Mountain Lakes, NJ, who earned a Master of Arts in Special Education.

Joseph Rimi ‘27, a teaching assistant at the Forum School in Waldwick, NJ, enrolled in the program because he believes becoming a teacher will allow him to make a positive impact.

“I’ve always felt like I was incredibly lucky as a student, K to 12 and in college, because all of my teachers and professors were fantastic, and I just really wanted to pay it forward by becoming a teacher and making a positive difference, the way that I feel like all of the teachers and all of the faculty that I’ve had have done for me,” he said.

Another teaching assistant, Laura Morgan ‘26, originally earned a business degree, and made a career change after her children were born. She spent years as a paraprofessional with Bergen County Special Services, working with children with autism. When she learned of the program, she took advantage.

“They made it very convenient for us. It is a great program for anyone that’s a TA, because you have some knowledge, but it gives you even more. So now you can apply what you’re learning to teaching. And I love the fact that we were able to stay working and do this program, which was an absolute benefit,” Morgan said.

Morgan, of New Milford, NJ, who at 55 years old earned her teaching certificate, is slated to earn her Master’s in Special Education next year.

This summer, she began officially teaching in her own classroom, and is accepting a fulltime teaching position with BCSS in the fall.

Morgan said she often recommends the program to others. “If this is the career you want, take advantage of what’s being offered,” she said.

To learn more, visit Ramapo’s TA to Teacher webpage.