Ten Nacogdoches ISD paraprofessionals are part of the district’s first Teachworthy cohort, a pathway for completion of their bachelor’s degree and obtaining a teaching certificate while working as a classroom instructor. Indiana Wesleyan University is NISD’s partner institution.
Much of the program’s expenses are covered by a combination of the partnership between NISD and Indiana Wesleyan and the additional salary paid to the staff while they move forward through the classes. A paraprofessional in the cohort working towards their degree will have their compensation increased to $35,000 annually.
NISD launched the program earlier this year as Texas schools struggle to fill openings in the classroom, said Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo.
“This program addresses a targeted need for Nacogdoches ISD,” Trujillo said. “School districts across the state – across the nation – are facing difficulties in hiring teachers, and this is an opportunity to truly grow our own educators.”
The next NISD cohort will begin next semester. The district’s Human Resources department will begin providing application details about the process in January.
Teachworthy is open to all NISD paraprofessionals who want to earn a degree and teaching certificate. While the district doesn’t require college credit hours to be eligible, it does prefer the applicant to have already completed some hours, said Harold Whitaker, NISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.