NATCHEZ — Locals who want to explore a teaching career are now being offered that opportunity.

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence is sponsoring informational meetings tonight at the Natchez Convention Center.

“Teach and Inspire” is a Web-based educational program that allows people with a bachelor’s degree to become certified teachers within high-need school districts.

“For Mississippi, the subjects that are considered high needs are math, science and English,” said Mike Holden, the board’s director of public relations.

The purpose of the program — which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education — is to help prepare potential teachers for the classroom and allow them to work at their own pace toward obtaining their certification.

If accepted into the program, the board awards a full scholarship and materials to participants.

Holden said there is a time frame the board would like its students to meet.

“Ideally, we’d like to see someone taking exams in six months,” Holden said. “The average candidate takes eight to 10 months to complete the program.”

In order to complete the program, students must take two tests in a testing center — one that is based on the subject the student wants to teach — and a professional teaching knowledge test, which is required of all students.

Participants are allowed to attempt their two tests three times each. However, if incapable of passing the board’s tests, the participant will be asked to leave the program.

While students are given a year to complete their online courses, the board’s objective is to have students teaching classes at the beginning of the next school year after completing the program.

After board certification is obtained and classroom observations have been completed, students will receive a $1,000 stipend.

Representatives from the board will be leading three sessions at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 tonight to introduce people who are interested in the program to the board’s requirements and course set up. If unable to attend any of the sessions, people can go to the board’s Web site to become acquainted with the program: www.abcte.org/inspire.