Episode 3: Lowell Teacher Academy Part 1-Pina Maggio
The United Teachers of Lowell’s commitment to its members can be demonstrated through the creation of Lowell’s Teacher Academy and Induction program. Originally conceived by UTL President Paul Georges as a contracted benefit, since 2005 Lowell has supported educators through a unique program of mentoring, guidance, and professional development known as Lowell Teacher Academy, or LTA. LTA continues as one of the best, and possibly the only, teacher-driven and teacher-led programs in the United States.
The LTA today is led by former middle school English Language Arts educator, Pina Maggio. Pina was among the cohort of original mentors and her unique perspective keeps the needs of educators and support staff at the forefront. And as Executive Vice President of the United Teachers of Lowell, Pina brings an extraordinary viewpoint to her work as Interim LTA Facilitator.
In today’s conversation, we talk with Pina about the mentoring and induction program and how United Teachers of Lowell’s commitment to creating career pathways for members has evolved since the Academy’s inception in 2005. In a future episode we’ll also explore ways our members can access coursework and workshops necessary to retain licensure, complete requirements for endorsements necessary for re-licensure and career opportunities for support staff.
Thanks again for listening and for your patience while we work through a few minor technical issues. We do hope you’ll press the subscribe button and comment below to let us know your thoughts. We’re always open to new ideas, so if there is a topic you’d like to hear more about, please let us know in the comment section below.
For More Information:
The Lowell Teacher Academy website is available at this link.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Licensure Page.
