By Rachel Davis, KETK

This year 41,920 teacher positions went unfilled in the U.S., according to the Learning Policy Institute. However, the lack of certified teachers doesn’t mean a lack of people interested. 

“I mean it’s hard, we have schools that are hiring their para-educators, that are hiring substitutes just to be in the classroom,” said Suzzette Stringer, TVCC division chair for education. “So I want to make sure we are able to fill that need in all of our school districts with certified teachers.”  

Trinity Valley Community College is trying to remedy the issue here in East Texas by adding a state approved bachelor’s degree program focused on education.

“Some of us were teachers ourselves in the K-12 system, and we saw those paraprofessionals and teacher aids and just assistants that helped out in the schools who would’ve been great teachers, but never had the opportunity to go and get their education degree,” said Spencer Wagley, vice president of instruction at TVCC. “This program with it being online provides those students with the opportunity to continue to work in their current school district, while earning their degree and their certificate.”

The TVCC Early Childhoor Development program was created with working professionals in mind. 

“Students from around the state can participate in the program but also local students, local paraprofessionals in our schools don’t have to take off work to come to class because it is online classes,” said Holley Collier, associate vice president for instructional innovation and support. “But apart of those online classes, there will be some clinicals where they have to do an orientation face to face.” 

By allowing students to get their degree and teaching certificate simultaneously, the college hopes to alleviate a local and a national issue, much sooner.

“I see the value of having this for our local students and students across the state to start here at TVCC and finish with there bachelors degree, ” said Amy Roggers, TVCC alumnus. 

The new program is set to welcome its first class of degree students by August of 2025.