CREW to the Rescue: Dallas College Launches Center to Address Texas Teacher Shortage

Dallas College has launched the Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce (CREW), an initiative it said will address the critical shortage of certified educators across Texas and serve as the statewide hub for developing and expanding teacher apprenticeships statewide by providing resources and guidance aligned to the priorities of the Tri-Agency Work Group.

Shawnda Floyd

“We’re committed to breaking barriers that keep students from entering their chosen field,” Shawnda Floyd, provost and vice chancellor of Dallas College Workforce Education, said in a statement. “Earning quality in-classroom experience prior to graduation will open up substantial opportunities for future teachers across Texas. Dallas College is proud to play a pivotal role in supporting local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and local workforce boards in developing robust pathways into the teaching profession.”

Dallas College said CREW will support school systems and institutions of higher education in building high-quality teacher apprenticeships that manage the financial burden and make it possible for aspiring educators to become teachers.

The work has been informed by the Governor’s Teacher Vacancy task force and builds upon Texas’ existing talent pipeline investments—including Grow Your Own and Texas Strategic Staffing—that are aimed at strengthening the teacher talent pipeline, Dallas College said.

‘Game-changer for aspiring teachers’

“The apprenticeship center will be a game-changer for aspiring teachers by giving them access to high quality preparation, coaching and invaluable experience in the classroom through innovative apprenticeship partnerships,” said Jessica McLoughlin, associate commissioner of educator preparation, certification and enforcement at the Texas Education Agency.

Dallas College said the launch comes at a critical time, with teacher staffing challenges reaching unprecedented levels nationwide and the percentage of uncertified new teacher hires eclipsing certified new hires for the first time in Texas.

CREW’s goal is to eliminate persistent educator workforce challenges in high-need certification areas such as special and bilingual education and in high-need localities, such as rural communities.

“Ensuring that our educators are well prepared is fundamental to the success of Texas students — from K-12, to higher ed, to career,” Wynn Rosser, commissioner of higher education for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, said in a statement. “By strengthening the pathways between higher education institutions and our classrooms, we can cultivate a new generation of teachers equipped to meet the needs of all Texas students.”

Regional hub for collaboration

The CREW at Dallas College will serve as a key resource for regional hubs and apprenticeship collaborators, the college said. According to Dallas College, it will provide tools, training and technical assistance to support partnerships in designing apprenticeship pathways that meet an acute workforce need and in sustainably funding these pathways.

This summer, CREW will launch a cohort of collaborative work groups including institutions of higher education, workforce boards, school systems, education service centers, and nonprofits.

Selected collaboratives will serve as future teacher apprenticeship regional hubs that will play an important role in scaling the apprenticeship model and quality guidelines statewide, ensuring a sustainable and high-quality talent pipeline for Texas schools, the college said.

“Teacher apprenticeships support efforts to connect Texas’ aspiring educators with successful careers, while addressing statewide demand for teachers,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Bryan Daniel. “The Texas Workforce Commission is committed to bolstering the expansion of teacher apprenticeship programs across the state.”