SMU Teams Up With TFA to Train Better Texas Teachers

In Texas, there's a big problem: not enough qualified teachers. Southern Methodist University (SMU) has an idea to fix this. They've joined forces with Teach For America (TFA), a well-known group that helps people become teachers quickly. This partnership is all about giving Texas schools more good teachers, which is great for students. Why is this such a big deal? Many new teachers in Texas don't have proper training or certification. This makes them more likely to get burned out and leave the job early. In 2023, almost one-third of new hires weren't certified! That's where SMU and TFA come in. They offer programs that help people with a bachelor's degree become teachers. Since they started working together, over 358 SMU-affiliated TFA alumni have gotten standard teacher certificates.But is this really helping students? Yes! Students taught by TFA-trained teachers do as well as those taught by other educators. They even make bigger gains in subjects like math and reading. Plus, these teachers are good with kids who have specific challenges, like learning English or having a disability. Another important part of this partnership is helping new teachers financially while they get certified. This helps schools keep more teachers, which means better education for Texas students. SMU isn't just doing this out of the goodness of their heart; they know that relying on quick fixes like not requiring certification will only make things worse. They want to find real solutions with groups like TFA. The future of thousands of students depends on this effort. As Stephanie Knight, the Dean of SMU's education school, says: "more funding and support for teacher certification" is key to solving this problem. Will Texas find a long-term way to help teachers and students? Only time will tell, but SMU's work with TFA is a bright spot in Texas' quest for better education.