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The first cohort of students graduated this month from a special education teacher preparation and credentialing program that was developed in a collaboration between the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District and San José State University.
This program was created to address the urgent, ongoing need for credentialed special education teachers in Livermore and neighboring communities, according to a statement from LVJUSD.
For a long time now, special education teaching positions have been considered “hard to fill”, with demand continuously outpacing supply across public education. This shortage became more pronounced after the pandemic, leaving LVJUSD with 17 unfilled positions in 2022.
“We knew we had to not only think outside the box, but do so in a way that would help us stabilize staffing for the long term,” said Dr. Tami Turner, LVJUSD program specialist and adjunct lecturer, in the district’s statement. “We were fortunate enough to align with SJSU, which was looking for an opportunity to expand its program and connect graduates to jobs in the industry. It’s truly been a win-win.”
LVJUSD and SJSU launched the program’s first cohort in 2023, which consisted of 15 students with strong ties to Livermore. These students included LVJUSD paraeducators, parents of special education students, and others already involved in the community. All had obtained their bachelor’s degrees and were looking to pursue meaningful careers in special education.
Classes were offered both online and in-person on Livermore school campuses, enabling participants to remain close to home while advancing professionally. The program also provided hands-on experience and mentorship from district program specialists and teachers.
“For me, the best part of the program was being part of a cohort. I made good friends with others who can relate to the process and now have a large professional network that I can lean on for help and support,” shared Andrew Phillips, cohort graduate and extensive support needs (ESN) teacher at Marylin Avenue STEAM Academy.
“This career path has a high turnover rate and can feel isolating at times, but I think teachers from this program will have a higher rate of retention because of the support and connections that are developed through the cohort,” said Phillips.
11 students from the first cohort graduated on June 11 and are fully-credentialed teachers for LVJUSD, while four others are still completing the program, officials told the Weekly. Graduates earned either a Master of Arts in special education with a preliminary education specialist credential or a standalone Master of Arts in special education, depending on their chosen track.
“This partnership is more than a program — it’s a community solution,” said Kelly Manke, LVJUSD assistant superintendent of special education. “We are cultivating our own educators by investing in the people who already care deeply about our students and our schools.”
A second cohort has already begun, with greater student representation from other districts in the Tri-Valley Special Education Local Plan Area, a regional entity of which LVJUSD is a member. The new cohort includes participants from Livermore, Dublin, Brentwood, Stockton and Manteca.
By promoting participation from a broader region, the credentialing program aims to inspire surrounding districts to follow LVJUSD’s lead in developing a steady supply of credentialed special education teachers.
For those interested in earning an advanced degree in special education, the deadline to apply for SJSU’s fall 2025 admission is July 1, according to the district’s statement. For more information about the cohort program, contact Lisa Simpson at lisa.simpson@sjsu.edu.
