The University of Houston’s College of Education, in partnership with the Houston Independent School District (HISD), has a new initiative designed to develop highly qualified teachers.  The program, Teach Forward Houston, establishes a fellowship which will provide area schools with teachers and staff who are well trained and committed to improving their communities through education.

Students from HISD participating in the Teach Forward Houston fellowship will earn a Bachelor of Science in (B.S.) Teaching & Learning from the University of Houston and will be required to return to the HISD school district to teach or serve as an instructional leader for at least four years.  The 2016 Teach Forward participants will be placed in elementary schools throughout the district for grades kindergarten through fifth.

One hundred candidates will be picked from highly motivated HISD seniors.  Although there is no minimum test scores or GPA requirements, the prospective fellows are expected to be in good academic standing.  Other factors that are considered are extracurricular activities and their overall evaluations.  The program is expected to begin in the summer of 2016, with the first cohort of students enrolling for the fall 2016 term.  Prior to enrolling, the participants will be required to attend a mandatory week long orientation.

The program is designed to provide students with tuition assistance and academic support throughout their collegiate careers as well as provide them with the necessary tools to succeed.  Students will be given an extensive training model for their first two years of teaching, internship opportunities, and a full year of teacher-residency experience. 

“Teach Forward Houston will benefit our communities by bringing highly qualified teachers into the classrooms,” said Robert McPherson Dean of the College of Education.  “The students participating in the program will have the opportunity to study in a Tier One institution, receive the top quality training and ongoing support they need to be successful in the classroom, and graduate with little to no debt.”

Upon graduation and completion of the Teach Forward Houston program, students are guaranteed a teaching position in HISD.  Along with helpful coaching and mentoring during their first two years of teaching, the fellows will be eligible for additional professional development opportunities during their third and fourth years.  The first two years of teaching are often the most critical for new teachers and the Teach Forward Houston program is designed to give those teachers the assistance they need to ensure their success.

Read more about the Teach Forward Houston program.