MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University has established a new partnership with Eastpointe Community Schools that will provide an online pathway for eligible ECS staff to obtain teacher certification in exchange for a three-year commitment to teach in the district upon completion of the program.

The ECS Board of Education recently approved funding to cover NMU tuition so that employees who already hold a bachelor’s degree can obtain a secondary certificate in a core subject area. Paraprofessionals can pursue a bachelor’s degree with a certification in learning disabilities.

Joe Lubig, associate dean of NMU’s School of Education, Leadership and Public Service, attended the board meeting with the district’s superintendent to explain the certification process and confirm NMU’s commitment to the partnership.

“The Michigan Department of Education recommended NMU to Eastpointe,” Lubig said in a news release. “We are using our NMU Global Campus graduate program to meet this need. We believe the plan Eastpointe put in place will develop quality teachers and increase their retention of teachers in their district.”

ECS Assistant Superintendent Christina Gibson said in a press release that the partnership will help ECS invest in staff members who are “already committed to our Eastpointe community and care deeply about our children.”