Alliances between Walden University and the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency in Iowa, the South Central Service Cooperative in Minnesota, and the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents will give educators and associates of these organizations the opportunity to enroll in higher education programs at The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University.

The partnerships provide teachers, administrators and staff from these organizations with professional development opportunities by facilitating access to Walden’s master’s and doctoral programs, as well as the B.S. in Child Development and B.S. in Instructional Design and Technology programs, Minnesota state-approved teacher preparation programs and special education endorsement programs.

“Walden University has a rich professional education legacy, and we are committed to helping the learning, achievement and success of students in eastern Iowa, southern Minnesota, and Tennessee by preparing outstanding educators. We are proud partners with these organizations in their initiatives to address the growing professional development needs of educators and administrators,” said Victoria Reid, vice president of the Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University.

Walden University’s Riley College of Education and Leadership is named in honor of Richard W. Riley, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and a leading advocate in advancing education. Walden’s degree programs support the needs of educators at all levels, from preschool through higher education, and at various stages of their profession, including new and veteran classroom teachers, experienced faculty members and administrators, and career-changers interested in teaching in two areas of teacher shortages: early childhood education and special education (with a focus on learning disabilities or emotional/behavioral disorders).

About Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency
The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency is one of twelve area education agencies (AEAs) in the state created by the 1974 Iowa Legislature to ensure all children have equal educational opportunities. AEA's serve as intermediate units providing educational services to local schools.

More than 50,000 students in public and approved non-public schools in 153 buildings are served by the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency. This area includes all of Clinton, Scott and Muscatine counties, as well as parts of Cedar, Jackson and Louisa counties.

About South Central Service Cooperative
South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) was established in 1976 by the Minnesota state legislature and is the regional delivery system for school districts, governmental agencies and non-profits in Minnesota. It is governed by a board of directors composed of one appointed member and up to 12 elected members. SCSC provides programs and services through unique and collaborative partnerships and believes these collaborative endeavors position the cooperative to deliver the highest quality programs and services to its customers. 

About Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents
The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) is an organization committed to improving education. TOSS represents 136 school districts in the state of Tennessee and was chartered in 1975 by the Tennessee General Assembly as a not-for-profit corporation. The mission of TOSS encompasses the advancement of public education; the promotion of the work and interests of the superintendency; the gathering and circulation of information on general school matters; the provision of pertinent information on sound education legislation to the General Assembly of Tennessee; the cooperation with the state department of education and other agencies and organizations interested in public education; and the proposal of legislation, the establishment and communication of a position on pending legislation and the study of its impact on local school systems.