March 16, 2026 - East Stroudsburg, PA
This week, Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe announced nearly $1 million in grants to 11 institutions of higher education to provide an accelerated pathway to certification for Special Education teachers in training, delivering on Governor Josh Shapiro's pledge to stabilize the Commonwealth's pipeline of highly qualified teachers and ensure that all Pennsylvania students - including students with disabilities -- have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.These grants allow higher education institutions to expedite training and certification for Special Education teachers like Nick Tanzillo, who earned his certification in the first cohort of 142 educators who completed the Accelerated Program for PK-12 Special Education Teacher Certification in 2025. Tanzillo is now a Special Education teacher for Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 working with students in a therapeutic emotional support program at Pleasant Valley Middle School in the Pleasant Valley School District and a mentor to students in East Stroudsburg University's second cohort of aspiring educators in the accelerated program. LIST OF SPEAKERSKenneth Long, East Stroudsburg University President Amy Lena, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Pennsylvania Department of EducationJieh Xuan (Tina) Pan, Special Education Teacher in K-2 autistic support and graduate of the Accelerated Program for PK-12 Special Education Teacher Certification through East Stroudsburg UniversityNick Tanzillo, Special Education TeacherDr. Gina Scala, Professor of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Department Chair at East Stroudsburg University
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