By Linda Maitrejean
Across North America, schools are feeling the strain of workforce shortages. But for many aspiring educators, the biggest hurdle isn’t passion—it’s access. Specifically, access to flexible, affordable, and supportive pathways that lead to educator certification. At Educate-WI, we’ve spent years refining an approach that meets today’s needs: fully online, cohort-based certification programs for professionals balancing career, family, and education.
Our programs are built on a simple idea: if you have a bachelor’s degree—no matter your field of study—you can take meaningful steps toward becoming a certified teacher or school leader. Educate-WI provides educator certification programs for prospective and practicing teachers and administrators through three core pathways: Project Teaching for general education, 10 Sped for special education, and WiscAd for those pursuing roles such as principal or superintendent.
All programs are asynchronous and fully online, allowing candidates to complete coursework on their schedule—ideal for paraprofessionals, mid-career changers, and others seeking a transition into education.
What makes our model different is the combination of structure and support. Students progress through each program as part of a cohort, building peer networks and learning alongside others on a similar path. Instructors are experienced K–12 educators who bring real-world insight to each lesson. Coursework includes graduate credit through our partnership with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and financial aid options are available for eligible programs.
We also align our course calendar to match school hiring cycles. Many participants begin working in classrooms while completing certification, gaining valuable on-the-job experience while meeting urgent staffing needs.
Project Teaching, our largest program, offers certification in 19 general education subject areas. 10 Sped prepares qualified special education teachers—one of the highest-need roles in education today. Both pathways are open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree. WiscAd, designed for educators stepping into leadership, requires a master’s degree by program completion.
While based in Wisconsin, our certification pathways support candidates in other states—and even other countries. Each state sets its own rules, but many graduates find they meet most or all criteria for certification elsewhere. Our team assists out-of-state candidates with documentation and guidance throughout that process.
Beyond certification, our EdNova workshop series helps currently licensed teachers remove stipulations from existing certifications and continue their growth in the field.
Thousands of individuals have used Educate-WI as a springboard into education. Some come from other careers. Others are support staff ready to take the next step. All bring valuable life experience to the classroom, and our job is to help them channel that into a successful teaching or leadership role.
Enrollment for our next semester is currently open, with cohorts beginning in September. For those considering a meaningful career move—into teaching, special education, or school leadership—now is a great time to take the first step.
Linda Maitrejean is the Chief Executive Officer of Educate-WI, a fully online educator preparation program offering licensure in general education, special education, and school leadership. She has over two decades of experience supporting adult learners and advancing workforce-driven education pathways.
