by Rebecca Zisch
Since March, a small but dynamic group of students have been participating in a brand-new, innovative program
in the NSC School of Education. They may not look like traditional students, but they have a consummate energy and enthusiasm for their own education and the process of becoming teachers.
Multilingual Individuals Training to Become Teachers (MITT) is a collaboration between the Clark County School District (CCSD) and Nevada State College. The program aims to help curb the persistent teacher shortage in Clark County while also reacting to the growing demand for multilingual teachers motivated and skilled to effectively work with K-12 English Language Learners.
Because the MITT program targets professionals with four-year degrees from accredited international universities, and for whom English is a second language, the current students blend of countries and backgrounds make for stimulating interaction in the classroom. MITT’s pioneer cohort includes students whose experiences and joy of learning will make the kind of inspirational teachers that ultimately succeed in the classroom.
Dr. Lori Navarrete, Associate Dean of the School of Education, spearheaded the MITT program and speaks with enthusiasm about its students. These are brilliant, wonderful people with diverse and interesting lives. They came to America for different reasons, some for marriage or as refugees, but they are all excited to be teachers.
They range in age from 30 60 years old and have all immigrated to the United States and are now either citizens or legal permanent residents. There is a Physics professor from Mexico and husband and wife engineers from Romania, and each person’s education and professional experience was a unique path to NSC. They may have not predicted this is where they would be some day, but now they participate in intensive English immersion training coupled with teacher education coursework, all of which sets them on the path toward a Nevada teaching license.
Other students are from Cuba, Egypt, the Philippines, El Salvador, Russia, Vietnam, Iran and Argentina and have been lawyers, accountants and so much more before immigrating to the US. Most have been in the US for 5 10 years but have had to work different jobs than they did previously because of language barriers. Some were teachers before immigrating and have been substitute teachers for CCSD. And one student works in the maintenance department for the school district but will soon be teaching in a classroom.
Bency Manglicmot, M.Ed., is a professor who has had rewarding classroom experiences with the MITT program students. It is great to see so many students with a deliberate desire, later in life, to learn something new.
Manglicmot was previously a math teacher and now works as an English Language Learner (ELL) Specialist for CCSD. This past summer, she piloted a writing course at NSC specifically geared toward the MITT students language needs. They improved their own writing while learning how to teach writing to others. She recalled that even though students were working, caring for families and going to school at night, they didn’t want to leave. They were so energized. They were so excited to learn.
Born in the Philippines and an immigrant herself, Manglicmot is a uniquely qualified instructor for the MITT program. She understands the obstacles a non-native English speaker might face in becoming a teacher. Specifically, there is a common fear of public speaking, which is a cornerstone to a successful career in education. This was a wonderful learning experience for me and them. Many of the students are worried about their accents, but my life experiences were encouraging to them I reminded them that an accent is just a part of who you are. They should never be worried about their accents.
Five students who began with MITT last March have already passed their English language proficiency test and begun the Alternate Route to Licensure (ARL) that includes professional development training, licensure coursework and practicing teaching skills with a mentor teacher. The remaining 17 MITT students in the original cohort have until December to complete their language proficiency and prepare themselves to also begin the ARL. Manglicmot says that many of them are considering going into Elementary Special Education.
Associate Dean Navarrete is positive about the first MITT students completing their licensure requirements and the future of the program overall. We’re already seeing great progress with the MITT program so far, which is very encouraging as the education of these students will have a positive impact on our entire community.
For more information on Nevada State College, call: 702.992.2000 or visit: nsc.edu.
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Local Sixth Grade Students Make a "Promise" with NSC
There’s no better promise than a future of possibilities. In essence, that is what the NSC Promise Program is all 
about. It is a new program implemented by Nevada State College in an effort to reach out to disadvantaged sixth-grade students, teaching then the importance of preparing for college.
“Research shows that traditionally disadvantaged students without positive role models are less likely to attend college, said Nevada State College President Fred Maryanski. Our goal with the NSC Promise is to teach these sixth graders the importance of going to college, provide them with positive role models and show them that college is financially viable.
Each year, NSC will coordinate with as many as six elementary schools for the NSC Promise Program. Schools that have already participated include Burkholder Middle School in Henderson and Cannon Middle School in Las Vegas.
As part of the outreach initiative, local personalities, business leaders and government officials who are college graduates share their personal stories about the importance of preparing for and graduating from college. These individuals lend perspective to the students on how a college education opens doors to future success.
Among the local role models lending his time to the NSC Promise Program is former Los Angeles Raiders running back Napoleon A. McCallum. The U.S. Naval Academy graduate, who now serves as the Director of Community Development for the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, is among those offering their time to encourage middle school students to become college graduates.
The NSC Promise Program is a joint effort between the Offices of Student Financial Services and Scholarship and 
Enrollment Management at Nevada State College, the Nevada State College Foundation and Clark County School District. Instrumental in finding role models for the program has been Hannah Brown, who is a Nevada State College Diversity Council member and NSC Presidential Award recipient.
Sixth graders participating in the program will receive an NSC Promise Certificate , which is good for a $500 scholarship in their first semester at Nevada State College if they graduate from high school and meet the college’s admission requirements.
As a result of the program, students who do not have positive role models will receive the encouragement they need to help them meet their goals. Each year, Nevada State College will send these students a postcard reminding them of the promise and benefits that come with having a college degree.
For more information on Nevada State College, call: 702.990.2000 or visit: nsc.edu.
