UTB-TSC receives grant to educate more teachers

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College has been awarded a multi-million dollar grant to help more students become teachers.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the university’s School of Education a $2.2 million five-year “Transition to Teaching” grant.

The grant is designed to implement a fast-track alternative teaching certificate program for recent college graduates, mid-career professionals and paraprofessionals.

The 90 new teachers would be certified to teach early childhood levels through fourth grade, plus bilingual education, mathematics and science.

“We will begin to create the curriculum this summer and then the students will begin the program the following year, (in) the fall of 2008,” said Reynaldo Ramirez, associate professor of secondary and science education.

Ramirez says they will accept nearly 20 students each year into the program over the next five years.

Once the students complete the three-year certification program, they will teach in high-need school districts such as Brownsville, Los Fresnos, Point Isabel, San Benito, Harlingen, La Feria and Lyford for three years.

Students accepted into the program will receive a $5,000 scholarship good for tuition, books and iPods. They will also receive stipends when they are not working.

For more information, call the School of Education at (956) 882-7255.