The associate teacher program gives CCISD paraprofessionals opportunity to become a certified to tackle teacher shortage.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Across Texas, school districts are facing a tough challenge finding enough certified teachers to fill their classrooms. But Corpus Christi ISD, there’s a unique solution that’s making a real difference. Instead of looking outside, they’re growing new teachers from within with their associate teacher’s program.
It wasn’t part of the plan—but Victoria Garcia’s career took an unexpected turn.
“It was not my career path. I did not think about it at all,” Victoria said. “I just started tutoring at this campus and then tutoring turned into long term sub and then around that time is when the associate teacher program came out and I had already been at my campus for like a year and a half. So it just made sense for me to go into the associate teacher program and here I am.”
As a CCISD alum turned kindergarten teacher, she credits the associate program with helping guide her into this new role.
“It’s designed for people who already have a degree and maybe want a second career and it’s just an easy, not an easy path, but it’s a nice transition starting the program and then you get the professional developments to kind of wean your way into the classroom and then the mentorship along the way so like you’re never doing it alone through this program,” Victoria said.
CCISD superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez said they currently have between 2,300 and 2,400 teachers. As for their grow-your-own program, just over 100 associates are now enrolled — and that number is growing.
“We’re trying to be innovative in what we do. We’re supporting our paraprofessionals who have an interest in becoming fully certified teachers and so we’re taking individuals who already have degrees, making them associate degrees, helping them finish that education certification and become our full-time teachers,” Dr. Hernandez said. “So it’s kind of almost growing your own they’re with us already. We love them and we want them to stay, so we’re helping them get their certification.”
Nora Casas-Garcia has worked in education for 30 years. She said this program is a game changer for interested teachers.
“What the district provides to a person like Victoria who didn’t go to school for education is they provided the opportunity to learn hands on how to be a teacher but also provide professional development support along the way so the district offers her a mentor. They offered her opportunities for her to go professional development,” Nora said. “So that associate teacher program was so helpful because it changed what opportunity she had.”
Nora and Victoria share more than just a passion for education.
“So to see what the district provides now with professional development and continuous support. It is wonderful for me to see, you know, even though she’s an adult, she’s still my child, to see that she’s still getting help and support as she continues with this, you know, trying out this career,” Nora said.
For Victoria, becoming a teacher is even more meaningful with her mom by her side.
“I never thought about being a teacher but it’s so fun to think about it and to see like I’m following in her footsteps,” Victoria said.
Dr. Hernandez hopes this program will be a key step in addressing CCISD’s ongoing teacher shortage