Become a teacher and make a difference.
Teachers play a big role in the intellectual and social development of children, determining future prospects of students and providing the tools and environment for students to develop into responsible adults.
As a teacher, you'll be a facilitator who:
- Uses classroom presentations or individual instruction to help students learn
- Plans, evaluates and assigns lessons
- Prepares, administers and grades tests
- Listens to oral presentations
- Maintains classroom discipline
- Observes and evaluates a student's performance and potential
- Grades papers and prepares report cards
- Meets with parents and school staff to discuss a student's academic progress and any individual concerns
Our teacher education program leads to an Associate in Arts Teaching (A.A.T.) degree. It includes introductory and mid-preparation courses to help you become a professional educator in pre-K-12 settings.
You'll also get field experience to observe and learn in a pre-K-12 classroom before transferring to a four-year institution.
The A.A.T. degree is a pre-professional degree that prepares students to transfer to a four-year college or university offering a Bachelor's in Education. It is a state-wide approved program and, when completed in its entirety, meets the requirements for the first two years of an early childhood, elementary or secondary education degree.
Recognition
Our degree is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and transfers to almost every four-year school of education in the state.
Careers
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has created the following reports to show shortages in areas and recruitment and retention:
Median salary for K-12 teachers in the Kansas City, Missouri is $48,000 (2022)
Visit Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to view salary information and employment outlook.
Download career pathways by education level table
Student Loan Forgiveness for Missouri Teachers
Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness.
Transfer made simple
Whatever your transfer destination, we'll work to make sure your credits move easily. That's why we're experts at it. We've worked out specific transfer agreements with many four-year colleges and universities.
Transfer recognition
Our degree is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and transfers to almost every four-year school of education in the state. View the MCC education course transfer equivalent chart, indicating how all MCC Education classes transfer to most of our partner institutions.
Check with your transfer school and your Student Success Advisor for the most accurate and timely transfer information.
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That depends. Each state has its own certification requirements.
It is best to check out the state and the institution that you want to transfer to before taking your education classes at MCC. If you receive your teacher’s certificate in the state of Missouri, you can transfer to other states provisionally.
The state of Missouri has reciprocity agreements with Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa
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Set up an appointment with a Student Success Advisor and they will help you build a pathway toward completing coursework at MCC and then transferring to a teacher education program to complete the remainder of your teacher certification requirements. You can also contact one of the full-time education instructors at MCC.
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One of the courses (EDUC 201: The Teaching Profession with Field Experience) has a 30-hour observation requirement. If desired, students can choose placements in different schools, different grade levels, and different subjects to complete this requirement -- a great way to explore options!
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There will always be a need for teachers in our society.
- You will have opportunities to do other work besides teaching in the classroom.
- You will have a set schedule of working during the day and throughout the year.
- You will have breaks (winter, spring, and summer).
- Public school teachers in Missouri have a strong retirement system.
The biggest benefit to being a teacher, though, is making a difference in the lives of students and the community!