Aldine’s Creates Pathway for Community to Advance its Equity Goals to Benefit Students

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It is hard to believe that the start of school for many Aldine ISD students is less than a month away. District and campus leaders are actively working and prepping for the 2022-2023 school year. That includes recruiting and creating opportunities to hire highly-qualified teachers. One means to recruit is partnering with different organizations to ensure licensed educators lead classrooms. 

The district has been working on several equity initiatives, including increasing the number of community educators of color working in schools. Earlier this year, Aldine partnered with the University of Houston College of Education to recruit community teachers for a new grow-your-own program. Why? Studies show that students of color reach better outcomes when taught by teachers of color. Students have better academic performance, improved graduation rates, and are more likely to attend college. This work is about fulfilling the district’s priorities and goals of its strategic plan — All AISD students must have access to high-quality schools and learning experiences that prepare them for their futures. 

The university’s Community Teacher Equity Development (CTED) program seeks to dismantle inequitable barriers that limit marginalized and minoritized groups’ access to teacher education programs. It also allows individuals who may have wanted to be in the classrooms an opportunity to invest in their community.

“Aldine has great diversity, and there’s already unity and camaraderie between my cohorts and me. There’s a network of people that are like-minded for the improvement of the community,” said Lewis Echols, an associate teacher at Houston Academy. He enrolled in the CTED program this spring.

Aldine ISD is currently offering a first-year teacher salary of $61,000. The starting salary for associate teacher hires is $61,000 (a bachelor’s degree requirement) with the possibility of receiving a $3,000 associate teacher stipend (statement of eligibility requirement). There is also a $1,000 sign-on bonus for all new teaching positions. The district also has a fast-track teaching initiative.