The overview
TISD’s Grow Your Own program—beginning this fall—will be a partnership with the University of Houston-Downtown and Texas Woman’s University, according to the release. A $450,000 grant from the Houston Endowment will fund the program.
"The Grow Your Own program is an incredible opportunity for TISD to build a strong pipeline, supporting those who aspire to make a difference as future teachers. ... Every effort we make towards growing our own will reinforce our commitment to offering a high-quality education with endless opportunities for our students," TISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said via the release.
Applications for the program are currently being accepted and will be finalized by the end of July, according to the release.
Learn more
According to the release, to be eligible for the program, interested individuals must:
- Be a current TISD staff member
- Have an associate degree or 60 college credit hours
- Apply for the program and be accepted
- Work full-time as a paraprofessional in classrooms during the program
- A Texas teaching license
- A bachelor’s degree
"With the launch of the TISD Grow Your Own program, we are not just building a pipeline for future educators; we are empowering our dedicated employees to reach their full potential,” Alicia Reeves, TISD’s assistant superintendent of human talent, said via the release. “This initiative reflects our commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and ensuring a brighter future for our students and community."
