First Houston Grow Your Own students to graduate

April 1, 2025 — HOUSTON — Veronica Mata’s sixth year as a paraprofessional in the Houston Independent School District is just a couple of months from ending, but she is excited about the new role she will begin in the 2025-26 school year. 

Mata will be a certified teacher for Houston ISD after she graduates in May from TWU with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education as part of the Houston Grow Your Own program. She plans to teach second grade.

“This program was the most significant opportunity for me to realize my dream of becoming a teacher,” Mata said. “It has dramatically altered my career path by enabling me to become a certified teacher.” 

Mata stands to see an approximate salary increase of 30% as a certified teacher from her current role as learning coach. In some cases, paraprofessionals could make as much as twice their salaries if they become certified teachers. 

“Not only will this open a broader range of professional opportunities, but it also provides a profound sense of achievement,” Mata said.

She has continued to work as a full-time Houston ISD employee while maintaining a full-time courseload — along with her full-time duties as a mom. 

“Veronica is a stellar education student. She represents the best of what a pioneering spirit is all about at TWU, and what we are trying to accomplish with our Houston area Grow Your Own initiative,” School of Education Director Juan Araujo, PhD, said. “A true unicorn.”

Her success is part of a TWU partnership that started in Fall 2023 with Houston ISD and the National Center for Grow Your Own. The district awarded TWU $500,000 in grants to guide nearly 100 teaching assistants toward bachelor’s degrees. 

Mata, Maria Sarmiento and Veronica Soliz are the first three to graduate from the program this May, but there are 59 Houston ISD students currently in the pipeline for either a degree in early childhood education (PK-3rd Grade) or education (EC-6th grade) and a total of 90 students across all of TWU’s Grow Your Own partnerships.

“This initiative provides valuable opportunities for district staff while strengthening the district's teacher pipeline with employees already familiar with and committed to the district,” said College of Professional Education Associate Dean Maria Peterson-Ahmad, PhD. “We are excited to collaboratively support each student through their program as they dream big! We can't wait to cheer them on when they walk across the stage at graduation."

Houston ISD was the first district TWU partnered with through Grow Your Own, but has since also teamed with Aldine ISD and Tomball ISD to support students in pursuit of their bachelor’s degrees and teacher certification in multiple areas. 

“Texas Woman's University is doing big things, and we can't wait to see their continued growth and impact. Their commitment to Grow Your Own pathways for aspiring educators is not just in word, but deed,” said David Donaldson, founder of the National Center for Grow Your Own. “We would highly recommend any district to consider partnering with this institution as they are flexible, innovative and truly keep the student at the center of their work.”

Mata says it’s been a life-changing dream come true.

“This program has changed my life for the better because I’m living a dream I never thought I could achieve.”

Page last updated 4:28 PM, April 1, 2025