Special Education Teacher Training (SETT)
Roles of the Collaboration
The Special Education Teacher Training supported pathway is possible through the collaborative relationship between APS, CNM, and ATF.
APS oversees the implementation of the program in alignment with the partner agreements.
CNM facilitates the placement and education of Teacher Candidates.
ATF sustains the partnership work in conjunction with the APS Board of Education.
All three entities work closely to support each other and the Teacher Candidate to ensure recruitment and placement of high-quality educators who will bring skill, caring, and passion to complex, special education classrooms.
How SETT Works
The SETT alternative licensure program provides new special education teachers the opportunity to co-teach with an experienced teacher during their first semester of teaching while taking academic coursework for PreK–12 special education licensure.
Teacher Candidates in the SETT program begin co-teaching in the fall while earning a first-year teaching salary and benefits. Classroom teaching is supported with rigorous coursework in the foundations of special education, curriculum and assessment, classroom and individual behavior management, and literacy instruction. Candidates will also complete coursework for a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) endorsement.
After co-teaching in the fall, teacher candidates will teach in their own classroom with continued mentorship, coaching, and support during the first two years of teaching.
More details about the program can be found on the Program Information and Timeline page.
Teacher Candidate Benefits
- Earn Level-1 APS salary with full benefits
- Assistance in applying for grants/scholarships to pay for special education licensure and TESOL endorsement coursework
- Layered levels of support and mentorship for two years
- Guaranteed employment with successful completion of the program
Teacher Candidate Eligibility
To qualify for the SETT program, teacher candidates must:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA from highest degree earned*
- Be a New Mexico resident
- Be legally authorized to work in the United States
- Successfully complete APS and NMPED background checks
- Agree to work as a special education teacher in APS for three years
* Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may still apply, but will need to pass a Praxis content knowledge assessment (middle grades or secondary).
Attend an Information Session
Anyone interested in SETT should plan to attend an information session prior to the February 15th application deadline.
During the Information Session, you will obtain vital information regarding program requirements, Program expectations, as well as information on the application and screening process.
Continuation of the APS/CNM/ATF SETT Program is dependent on funding approval by Albuquerque Public Schools and sufficient applicant numbers.* If the Program is not funded or lacks sufficient applicant numbers, SETT Program applicants will be considered for admission to the regular CNM Alternative Teacher Licensure Program in special education.
*Applicants will know by March 15 if the program is being continued for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Saturday January 8, 2022 at 3 p.m.
Saturday February 5, 2022 at 3 p.m.
When the time comes, please join the session:
SETT PowerPoint Presentation
If you missed a session, please review the PowerPoint presentation and reach out to kpeters5@cnm.edu if you have any questions.