·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ (ACE) proudly partners with thousands of school districts nationwide to provide professional development and education solutions that fill employment gaps. Teacher shortages are among the greatest challenges in education, and our is one of many success stories. We were excited to chat with Temple ISD’s Director of Employee Relations, Adrian Lopez, to learn more about their experience.
ACE: We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Temple ISD! Tell us about your experience being an ACE partner.Ìý
Adrian Lopez (AL): Our experience has been very collaborative. Everyone I have interacted with has always been genuinely willing to listen, respond quickly and offer help. My contacts at ACE have made me feel very comfortable reaching out for anything, which has played a significant role in the success of our collaboration.
ACE: We share a mission to see teachers continue their education and advance their careers. How have Temple ISD teachers benefited from the program and ACE?
AL: The long-term effect of the partnership is still a matter of time, but so far, we have seen many teachers excited about the opportunity to advance their careers from paraprofessionals to licensed educators. There is a sense of pride within the cohort of teachers in the program, and it’s terrific to see that. They want to succeed and contribute to the district meaningfully because they’re profoundly grateful that we are willing to support their career goals.
ACE: The primarily originated due to a teacher shortage in Texas, which we’re seeing nationwide. How has the partnership contributed to resolving the shortage?
AL: The easy response is that we have been able to begin the last two years 100% staffed, which is unheard of in our area and across the state. The CATT program has not only played an integral role in our partnership with ACE but has also become a district recruiting tool. Many of our current paraprofessionals are asking to join the CATT program, and we have also received several phone calls from outside the district inquiring about the requirements to join TISD and the CATT program.
ACE: What advice would you give to a school district looking to create teacher development programs in collaboration with higher education institutions?
AL: I would recommend that a school district look at the relationship with the institution and the alternative certification program they plan to use. Additionally, it is essential to screen teacher candidates thoroughly to ensure the proper placement.
We include the CATT teachers in the new teacher mentor program, and they participate in all the new teacher professional development to ensure ample preparation. I would also suggest providing the participants with additional mentoring to work through the pedagogy of teaching and plenty of observations and feedback. This allows more one-on-one mentoring to close the gaps from not pursuing a traditional education program.
·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ is here to provide education solutions for your school district. Learn more about what ACE can do for you.
