Medical Community Prioritizes Education for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Dr. Elizabeth Baham and Héctor Camacho Jr., leaders at Reach University in Oakland, have been awarded the prestigious James Irvine Leadership Award for their innovative work in addressing California’s teacher shortage. The duo has been recognized for their efforts in creating job-embedded curriculum and credential programs that attract and recruit future educators who may not have had a clear path into teaching or leadership roles.

Established in 2006, Reach University is the nation’s first and only accredited nonprofit university dedicated to offering undergraduate and graduate degrees and credentials. The university primarily partners with K-12 school districts to provide potential teacher candidates specializing in subjects such as liberal arts, math, science of reading, and computer science.

Héctor Camacho Jr., Dean of Admissions and SVP of Workforce Development, praised the university’s methodology of allowing candidates already employed in schools to earn college credit while mastering the art of teaching. The program’s unique approach includes paying students to earn a degree, with undergraduates taking on zero student debt.

Dr. Baham, Provost & Chief Academic Officer, emphasized the importance of having educators of color in classrooms to provide representation and diversity for students. She highlighted the success of Reach University’s approach, with 84% of California alumni still in the classroom five years after completing the program.

One student, Tysha Hayes, shared her non-traditional journey from being a bus driver for 27 years to pursuing a career in education through Reach University. Hayes expressed her excitement about building interpersonal relationships with her students and helping guide them towards success in health and wellness post-graduation.

The recognition and success of Dr. Baham and Mr. Camacho highlight the impactful work being done at Reach University to address the teacher shortage and provide a clear and affordable path for future educators.