TWU program eases pathway for future educators

Sept. 3, 2025 — HOUSTON — The School of Education at Texas Woman’s University is giving prospective early childhood teachers a better chance at a bachelor’s degree and Texas teacher certification through a $175,000 grant from Houston Endowment.

To address the teacher shortage, TWU is making access to a degree more attainable through an innovative teacher pathway based on competency-based education (CBE).

“Competency-based education will provide much needed flexibility for our students, many of whom work full time and have family responsibilities,” said College of Professional Education Dean Brigitte Vittrup, PhD. “Our goal is to meet students where they are and provide the most flexible opportunities for them to complete their degrees and become certified teachers.”

Through this grant-funded CBE project, students can complete a degree in Early Childhood Education at their own pace and potentially at a lower price, graduating with an opportunity to become certified to teach Pre-K through third grade by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

The curriculum will focus on real-world application to provide hands-on experience in classroom management, instructional strategies and student engagement — key competencies for effective teaching. Flexibility that CBE provides allows for working professionals, including paraprofessionals, to complete their training while gaining valuable classroom experience.

It offers more flexibility and can shorten the time to graduation while keeping the focus on what really matters: being fully prepared to teach and support young children.

— August Hamilton, Houston Endowment Education Program Director

“Competency-based education at TWU will provide access to students who seek tailored education,” said School of Education Director Juan Araujo, PhD. “Our primary approach will be to tailor learning to personalized skills and strengths. Students will show mastery in flexible ways in real-world challenges facing teachers today.

Araujo and Associate Dean Maria Peterson-Ahmad, PhD, are co-principal investigators on the research aspect of this pilot project, examining effectiveness and feasibility of the pathway for preparing educators.

“Our aim is to refine the model to ensure it serves a rigorous, high-quality pathway for future PK-3 teachers, equipping them with skills and knowledge for long-term success in the classroom,” Peterson-Ahmad said.

With a proven track record in Houston through TWU’s Grow Your Own programs in Houston, Aldine and Tomball Independent School Districts, Texas Woman’s is already a collaborator and innovator in the area with a strong understanding of Houston’s student population.

“What’s exciting about this model is that it meets future educators where they are, connecting classroom experience with a clear roadmap to a degree and credential. By allowing teacher candidates to move through the program based on what they’ve mastered, it offers more flexibility and can shorten the time to graduation while keeping the focus on what really matters: being fully prepared to teach and support young children,” said Houston Endowment Education Program Director August Hamilton. “We’re proud to support Texas Woman’s University in rethinking how early childhood teachers are trained to meet our region’s needs.”

The partnership and program continues the College of Professional Education’s efforts to build multiple opportunities for Houston-area students, according to Vittrup.

“We are grateful for the impactful relationship we have built with Houston Endowment and several school districts in Houston, and we are excited about growing our School of Education presence on the TWU Houston campus,” Vittrup said.

Page last updated 5:42 PM, September 3, 2025