New TAMIU Collaboration with UISD Helping Address Need for Special Education Teachers
This coming Thursday, May 16, Reyhitza Marquez will walk into history, ready to make a difference in her community. That’s because Reyhitza, a United Independent School District (UISD) employee, is the first participant in a transformative collaboration, “UTeach,” to address Laredo’s critical need for special education teachers.
Marquez’ colleagues at UISD’s Bonnie García Elementary School will honor her with a short ceremony at the gym, a parade through school hallways, and a ribbon-cutting in front of what will become her first classroom next year.
Marquez said she has enjoyed the UTeach experience and looks forward to teaching.
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to be the first UTeach Resident at UISD. My experience has been amazing since I started with tons of support and guidance from the Special Ed department. I am so excited and looking forward to my first year of teaching as the prospect of shaping young minds and witnessing their growth and development can be incredibly rewarding,” Marquez said.
UISD, Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) College of Education, and the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) began the “UTeach” initiative in 2023. Through UTeach, aspiring educators specializing in special education are equipped with comprehensive clinical training experiences under the mentorship of seasoned professionals. This hands-on residency approach fosters academic excellence and nurtures new generations of special educators ready to lead change.
The UTeach program provides select candidates with on-the-job training and mentoring, a minimum base salary of $20,000 including employee benefits, and teaching job opportunities upon graduation with certification. During their residency, UTeach students assist the special education teacher in providing for the physical and instructional needs of students with disabilities in a UISD special education setting.
TAMIU Dean of the College of Education Dr. James O’Meara said the initiative aligns seamlessly with TAMIU’s strategic priority of visionary academic programs and faculty.
“The success of TAMIU's partnership with UISD and NCTR underscores the University's dedication to providing cutting-edge programs that meet the evolving demands of our community. By also earning the prestigious designation of Vetted Teacher Residency from the Texas Education Agency, TAMIU has demonstrated its capacity to deliver high-quality teacher preparation programs tailored to address local educational needs.
“The UTeach program provides a unique opportunity for aspiring special educators to earn with United ISD while they learn at TAMIU. Over the next three years, we hope to expand this program to meet the growing need for special educators in Laredo as a large number of experienced special educators are expected to retire in the near future,” Dr. O’Meara explained.
Laura P. De Los Santos, UISD executive director of Special Education, said the partnership provides an opportunity for the District to grow its own teachers.
“The United Independent School District is very excited to Partner up with TAMIU in this exciting and invigorating program. This will allow Junior and Senior students who are seeking certification in special education to participate in our UTeach, UTransform Residency Program. This allows the student residents to shadow, learn, work, and earn alongside experienced teachers in the special education field on our campuses.
“These experienced teachers will serve as their guides and mentors while the residents are in the classroom learning through a hands-on approach and servicing our students. These residents will enjoy a salary compensation during their internship and will be offered a teaching position upon their successful completion of our program. Our Special Education Department is fully vested in providing the guidance and monitoring of their work experience to ensure the success of our Student Resident participants. We are very excited about this partnership and opportunity to grow our own teachers,” De Los Santos observed.
Marquez, who graduated this past Fall from TAMIU, was a member of TAMIU’s Texas Association of Future Educators and traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete in the 2022 Educators Rising National Competition. She placed second in the “Children’s Literature K-3 and Higher Education” category.
For additional information on the UTeach Initiative at UISD, contact De Los Santos at santos@uisd.net, or call 956.473.1865.
For TAMIU information, contact Dr. O’Meara at TAMIU, coeinformation@tamiu.edu, call 956.326.2420, or visit offices in Anthony J. and Georgia A. Pellegrino Hall, 301.
TAMIU's registration for Summe and Fall is now underway.
To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit https://go.tamiu.edu/registration
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