Current SEEK Initiatives
SEEK has two major initiatives designed to address the critical shortage areas in our school districts:
The Education Assistance Awards Program seeks bachelor or master’s degree students in their last year of school and provides incentives for qualified candidates to work in schools. Specialty areas may include:
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Physical Therapists & Assistants
- Occupational Therapists & Assistants
- Audiologists
- School Psychologists
- School Nurses
- Sign Language Interpreters
- Special Education Teachers, including:
- Teachers of Students with Vision Impairments (TVI)
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists (O&M)
- Early Childhood Educators
- Special Education Administrators
The award may be used to defray educational expenses paid public school practicum’s during the final year of the degree program (length depends on university requirements) and qualified mentors for the internship. Candidates who are accepted into this program agree to employment with their sponsoring district for up to three years following award of the degree.
(2) The Pathways Program
The Pathways Program provides a long-term pool of candidates to school districts addressing the critical shortage areas across the State. Students accepted into this program are employed full-time with a participating SEEK school district or Educational Service District (ESD) and complete three years’ full-time paid employment while also completing their degree. Besides their employment, candidates experience daily on-the-job training through a structured induction program and have an experienced, certified mentor. Candidates agree to employment with their sponsoring district in return for forgiveness of the tuition award.