New district partnership will produce new bilingual teachers
HISD is partnering with the University of St. Thomas to create a new bilingual teacher training program aimed at providing district employees – including paraprofessionals and teachers with a generalist certification – the opportunity to become a bilingual teacher, a critical shortage area for HISD.
The Bilingual Teaching Cohort will accept 20 applicants, who will then take 15 credit hours of specialized coursework through the University of St. Thomas, beginning in the summer of 2015.
Upon completion of the program, participants will have a bilingual teaching certification.
“This program is the result of feedback we gathered from our employees who wanted more professional development opportunities, as well as the need for more ‘grow-your-own’ teaching pipelines,” said Patra Brannon, general manager for Talent Acquisition. “We’re excited to be able to work with the University of St. Thomas to provide this opportunity while also training the next wave of effective bilingual teachers for HISD.”
Applicants must have a four-year degree and demonstrated proficiency in a second language (Spanish preferred). Participants will take graduate-level courses and must commit to teaching at one of HISD’s 140-plus designated campuses as a bilingual teacher of record as early as the fall of 2015.
Two information sessions have been scheduled for employees who want to learn more:
- Monday, April 13—4:30-5:30 p.m., at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092); click here to register.
- Tuesday, April 14—3:30-4:30 p.m., online webinar; click here to register.
Click here to learn more about the Bilingual Teaching Cohort or to apply. The deadline for applications is April 26, 2015.
