Houston Independent School District is helping those with a bachelor’s degree looking to make a career change become a certified teacher.

HISD’s Alternative Certification Program is dedicated to recruiting college graduates from diverse educational and career backgrounds who are passionate about making a bigger difference in the lives of students.

“The HISD ACP has been a phenomenal program from the very start,” said program participant Abby Wright. “Each and every person who I’ve interacted with truly wants to help us interns become the best teachers we can. They have provided hands on training, real world scenarios, and an abundance of knowledge. The best part is that once I stepped foot in the classroom, they were right behind me, ready to support me in any way possible.”

The one-year program is free for candidates who commit to teach in HISD for two years. Anyone with a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, minimum 2.45 GPA, and legal authorization to work in the U.S. is encouraged to apply.

Additionally, HISD has one of the most competitive salary compensation packages of any Houston-area school district. A new teacher’s annual salary begins at $61,500. The school district offers up to $5,000 stipends for teachers in critical shortage areas.

Virtual information sessions are being held weekly through February. See the full schedule here.

For more information, visit houstonisd.org/acp.