Understanding the ACT Landscape
You will gain a foundational understanding of the diverse pathways alternatively certified teachers take and the research-based reality of their critical first three years in the classroom.
New Release
I Hired an Alternatively Certified Teacher,Now What?
A roadmap for retaining, supporting, and empowering alternatively certified teachers — moving them from first-day uncertainty to classroom confidence, and giving leaders, mentors, and policymakers research-based strategies to support them well.
By Dr. Cheryl Rhonda Parker Countee
CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, NAACTeach
The Hook
A pattern too costly to ignore.
Dr. Countee saw a pattern that was too costly to ignore: alternatively certified teachers were being hired to meet urgent needs, but too often without the mentoring, structures, or professional support required to help them succeed. What appeared to be a staffing solution on paper was too often becoming a cycle of preventable struggle in practice.
This book was written to close that gap — and to make clear that when districts fail to support ACTs, the consequences impact students, teachers, and districts alike.
$20–25K
According to Learning Policy Institute research, replacing a teacher can cost districts an estimated $20,000 to $25,000 — making ACT support not only an equity issue, but a financial and strategic imperative.
Retain
Discover the systemic shifts necessary to keep talented alternative-route teachers in the classroom past the critical three-year mark.
Support
Practical mentorship strategies that bridge the gap between content knowledge and classroom management mastery.
Empower
Build a culture of professional agency where alternative certification is seen as an asset, not a temporary fix.
Who This Book Is For
Anyone with the power to change the ACT experience.
Written for alternatively certified teachers themselves — and for the people responsible for supporting them.
Alternatively Certified Teachers
You are living this experience. This book validates your struggles, celebrates your strengths, and gives you practical tools, planning support, reflection prompts, and language to advocate for the support you need and deserve.
Site Leaders
Principals, assistant principals, and instructional coaches are on the front lines of ACT support. This book provides a research-based roadmap for understanding what ACTs experience and taking practical action to support them effectively — starting with steps you can take this week.
District Leaders
Superintendents, HR directors, and professional development coordinators make decisions about hiring, induction, professional learning, and resource allocation. This book provides evidence and frameworks to help districts invest in comprehensive ACT support and implement it system-wide.
Mentors and Coaches
If you work directly with ACTs, this book helps you better understand the unique challenges they face and gives you specific strategies for supporting teachers who are learning on the job.
Policymakers
School board members, state education leaders, and legislators shape the conditions under which ACTs enter and remain in the profession. This book makes the case for policy changes that improve alternative certification pathways and fund adequate support systems.
Researchers & Teacher Educators
For those who study teacher preparation and development, this book contributes to the research base on alternative certification and raises critical questions for future inquiry.
What's Inside
Seven sections, one clear roadmap.
The ACT Support Toolkit
Situation — What Brought Them Here
You will learn how to assess the situational factors — from economic disruption to rapid hiring — that shape an ACT's needs before they even step into the classroom.
Self — Who They Are and What They Experience
You will discover how to navigate the "paradox of passion and pain," helping ACTs leverage their unique strengths while managing the intense stress of a career transition.
Support — The Village That's Missing
You will get a blueprint for building "the village" of support ACTs actually need, including tiered mentorship models and differentiated professional development frameworks.
Strategies — Survival vs. Thriving
You will learn how to move ACTs from basic survival mechanisms to the sophisticated professional routines and planning strategies required for long-term mastery.
Conclusion — From Crisis Response to Comprehensive Support
You will receive a phased roadmap for transforming your school's culture from urgent, crisis-driven hiring to a comprehensive system of teacher empowerment.
Appendices — The ACT Support Toolkit
You will have immediate access to a library of ready-to-use tools, including the Situation Assessment, hiring checklists, orientation frameworks, and financial resource guides.
About the Author
Dr. Cheryl Rhonda Parker Countee
Dr. Cheryl Rhonda Parker Countee is an education leader with nearly three decades of experience across teaching, site leadership, district administration, higher education, and human resources. She is the President of NAACTeach and a nationally recognized advocate for alternatively certified teachers, with deep expertise in teacher recruitment, retention, and workforce development.
Drawing on her background in HR, educator preparation, and leadership development, she helps school systems build stronger, more supportive pathways for teachers entering the profession. Her work is grounded in both research and practice, with a strong commitment to equity, belonging, and student success.
Praise for Dr. Countee
A leader colleagues rise to describe.
ACSA Region 4 · 2025
Personnel / Human Resources Administrator of the Year
Awarded the 2025 State ACSA Administrator of the Year Award — Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention, Fairfield Suisun Unified School District.
“As someone who had the privilege of being hired by Dr. Countee as a first-year teacher, I have experienced her exceptional commitment to fostering growth and success in those she supports. From the very beginning, she has been a steadfast advocate for my success, providing both financial and professional support that eased my transition into the education field.”
Amy A.
Elementary School Teacher
“She personally reached out to brainstorm solutions for filling teacher vacancies with candidates who met the unique needs of my bilingual students. They truly don't make them like Dr. Countee anymore — she gives relentless and selfless efforts in the pursuit of excellence without the anticipation of recognition or reward. The work is the reward for Dr. Countee, as success for all drives her mission.”
Jessica R.
Assistant Director
“Dr. Countee possesses a rare blend of sharp problem-solving skills and a sincere care for the well-being of her team. She empowers those around her to thrive and approaches each task with focus and enthusiasm that is truly contagious.”
Adriana Q.
Administrative Assistant
“Thanks to her commitment to making me feel valued, I was able to complete my credential program, earn my master's degree, and pass my Teaching Performance Assessments all within 18 months. I attribute this milestone and my success directly to her support.”
James H.
English Instructor
“Dr. Countee is a woman of integrity and very passionate about her work. She has mastered the art of recognizing talent and bringing people together to elevate the work that needs to be accomplished.”
Monique P.
University Partner
“What truly sets Dr. Countee apart is her kindness and authenticity. She is a compassionate and caring person who inspires everyone around her.”
Colleen H.
Principal
“Your encouragement has been invaluable as I pursued my master's degree in special education. Thanks to your support, I will proudly join the 9% of Black women with a master's degree this Winter.”
Elajah R.
Special Education Teacher
“Dr. Countee has been an invaluable influence on my professional journey. Her dedication to creating and maintaining a welcoming and supportive environment for educators is unparalleled.”
Falesha G.
ELEMENTARY TEACHER
August 6
AASPA
VIRTUAL BOOT CAMP 2026
Hear Dr. Countee at AASPA.
If you are attending the AASPA Virtual Boot Camp on August 6, this book is your next step. Dr. Countee's session introduces the framework for recruiting and supporting alternatively certified teachers well. I Hired an Alternatively Certified Teacher, Now What? takes that work deeper with research, tools, planning guides, real ACT stories, and implementation strategies for building support systems that last.
How to Buy
Get your copy.
Available now — published by BookBaby.
“Whether you are an alternatively certified teacher seeking classroom confidence, or a leader building the systems to support them — this book is your roadmap.”
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