MIDLAND, Texas — On May 7, Midland College and University of Texas Permian Basin entered a partnership to introduce a brand-new education pathway called 'Guiding and Growing Our Teachers at Home.'
"With the median age being 31 years old and the largest age demographic being zero to four, it's critical that we build a pipeline of educators because we know that our student population is only going to grow. We also know that we face shortages currently so we're looking to bridge that gap," said the President of Midland College, Dr. Damon Kennedy.
The pathway allows for students who are obtaining their Associate of Arts Teaching from Midland College to seamlessly transfer to UTPB after being admitted during their last semester at the college.
According to Dr. Kennedy, Midland College has been graduating about 23 students with an Associate of Arts in Teaching every year. He shared the institution plans to quadruple that number.
"As we partner with UTPB, we're also going to streamline a relationship with MISD and our goal is to build a pipeline of students in dual credit," said Dr. Kennedy. "One of our [Midland College] strategies for doing that is that we intend in our education pathway to offer free tuition to dual credit students."
He shared the college believes it takes time to effectively train teachers.
"Our goal is to begin new credit instruction in the spring of the 10th grade," said Dr. Kennedy.
Ideally, this would allow for students to earn 30 semester credit hours upon completion of their high school diploma, which would then require only three more years of higher education.
"So we're accelerating students through to completion three years post high school," Dr. Kennedy said. "But instead of it being the three-year program it's more like a six-year program."
Dr. Woodley shared some of these students' classes will be in the Pre-K Academy at Midland College and may also be hybrid or remote.
"It's really important to make sure that together collectively with Midland College, we modernize our programs and make sure that the students have the best experience, that they get in the classroom early and this beautiful facility allows the students very early in their educational journey here at Midland College and UTPB to get in the classroom," said Dr. Woodley. "It's a really amazing hands-on experience that will serve them well as they leave UTPB and they'll be really well prepared to get into the classroom here at Midland ISD."
Dr. Woodley included this introduction may benefit independent school districts across the 22 counties in the Permian Basin.