Are you interested in becoming a teacher and serving your local community? We have good news for you. Union County Public Schools (UCPS), Wingate University, and South Piedmont have teamed up to create TeachUCPS. This program offers multiple pathways for aspiring teachers to become licensed and enter the rewarding field of education.
How TeachUCPS Works
There are four ways to participate in TeachUCPS, and the best part is, they allow you to begin preparing for your teaching career as early as the ninth grade and give you the chance to save big $$$ on your college education.
This program is available to all UCPS high school students. You will complete your high school requirements while also earning an associate degree in Teacher Preparation from South Piedmont. You will graduate from high school with both your diploma and your degree. You will pay $0 in tuition at South Piedmont, and you will be eligible for the Gateway to Wingate Scholarship, which caps your tuition at Wingate at $2,500 per year. After completing your bachelor’s degree at Wingate, you’ll be eligible for employment as a teacher at UCPS.
This pathway is available to all high school students enrolled at Union County Early College. You will begin this program in the ninth grade. Five years later, you will graduate with both your high school diploma AND your associate degree in Teacher Preparation from South Piedmont. You will pay $0 in tuition at South Piedmont, and you will be eligible for the Gateway to Wingate Scholarship, which caps your tuition at Wingate at $2,500 per year. After completing your bachelor’s degree at Wingate, you’ll be eligible for employment as a teacher at UCPS.
This pathway is available to CTE students. You will register as a teacher pre-apprentice and take Teaching as a Profession courses at Weddington or Porter Ridge High (you do not have to transfer to these schools, but you do have to travel for classes). Immediately following your high school graduation, you will be eligible to be hired as a teacher assistant at UCPS. While working as a teacher assistant, you’ll complete your associate degree in Teacher Preparation at South Piedmont. You will pay $0 in tuition at South Piedmont, and you will be eligible for the Gateway to Wingate Scholarship, which caps your tuition at Wingate at $2,500 per year. After, completing your bachelor’s degree at Wingate, you’ll be eligible for employment as a teacher at UCPS.
This pathway is also available to CTE students at Weddington High and Porter Ridge High. After your CTE program, you will be able to attend any four-year university of your choice. You may transfer up to seven credits directly to a four-year university. After earning your bachelor’s degree, you will be eligible for employment as a teacher at UCPS.
This pathway is also available to CTE students at Weddington High and Porter Ridge High. After your CTE program, you will be able to attend any four-year university of your choice. You may transfer up to seven credits directly to a four-year university. After earning your bachelor’s degree, you will be eligible for employment as a teacher at UCPS.