Inside the push to build a stronger teacher pipeline
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On the latest episode of Upstream, education experts revealed new findings about the region’s teacher workforce. Houston Endowment Evaluation Officer Sara Jones led the conversation that unpacked research from the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), new data from the Texas Education Agency, and trends resulting from House Bill 2.
Panelists discussed how to attract talent and stabilize the pipeline of certified teachers with innovative pathways into the profession, such as Grow Your Own programs. LPI Senior Researcher Dr. Susan Kemper Patrick highlighted four policy priorities to continue the momentum of preparing and certifying teachers:
- Strengthen certification pathways in collaboration with partners that offer high-quality training and meaningful support.
- Build district capacity and allocate district staff to support certification efforts.
- Communicate expectations and incentivize certification through district practices and policies.
- Improve district hiring practices and personnel management beyond House Bill 2.
Other panelists included Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Philanthropy Advocates Managing Director of Policy & Advocacy Ryan Franklin, and Houston Endowment Program Officer Carlos Villagrana, all of whom concluded that, among these priorities, working in collaboration with partners was most critical.
“I'm excited about being able to bring people together and figure out how we work together to maximize resources and really make sure that we're providing a great support system for our teacher candidates,” said Villagrana.
