TAMIU College of Education Launches New Strategic Staffing Partnership to Enhance Teacher Residencies

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) College of Education has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Webb County Independent School District (Webb CISD) and Region One through a Texas Education Agency-funded Texas Strategic Staffing initiative.

TAMIU Dean of Education Dr. James O’Meara said the partnership has lasting and substantial potential for the Webb CISD service area.

“This collaboration is a major step forward in developing sustainable teacher residencies, to accelerate student learning, to expand the number of paid pathways to the teaching profession, and to ensure long-term teacher effectiveness,” Dr. O’Meara explained.

Year-Long Teacher Residencies for Student Success

At the heart of the initiative is the commitment to provide year-long teacher residencies in Webb CISD schools. Teacher residents will be placed strategically in partnership with District leaders, aligning with co-developed goals to meet the unique needs of students and schools. By immersing future educators in classrooms for an extended period, the program supports deep professional growth while providing schools with additional resources to enhance student learning. 

Collaborative Staffing Models for Sustainability

TAMIU and Webb CISD are working closely to build collaborative staffing models that can be sustained beyond the initial grant funding. This includes District-paid resident placements in positions that benefit the residents and the schools. The focus is on building the District’s internal capacity to maintain teacher residency programs through strategically reallocating District resources. 

Leadership and Strategic Commitment

A dedicated strategic staffing design team at both TAMIU and Webb CISD leads the effort. The design leader, along with District representatives, will design, refine, and implement the program. Regular bi-weekly design meetings, in-person sessions, and continuous collaboration with Region One will ensure project alignment and progress. 

Six Strategic Objectives

Driving the partnership are six key strategic objectives to enhance teacher preparation and impact:

*Supporting student learning acceleration through high-quality teacher residencies.

*Promoting equitable access to education and developing a diverse teacher      pipeline.

*Enhancing teacher effectiveness through rigorous pre-service training.

*Recruiting, training, and developing high-quality mentor teachers.

*Securing sustainable district funding for residencies through strategic financial planning, and

*Collaborating on data monitoring and continuous improvement. 

A Commitment to Data-Driven Improvement

To ensure the success of this initiative, TAMIU and Webb CISD will collaborate on gathering and analyzing data from teacher candidates and program graduates to guide continuous improvements and measure program success in teacher effectiveness, student achievement, and teacher retention. 

Dr. O’Meara said the goal is to create a model for teacher development and student success. 

“The ultimate goal of this partnership is to establish long-term, sustainable teacher residency programs that can continue to thrive without external support. By embedding these programs within the District’s budget and strategic staffing structures, Webb CISD and TAMIU aim to create a model supporting teacher development and student success for years to come. 

“Through this innovative partnership, we’re not only addressing immediate educational needs but also laying the foundation for a brighter, more equitable future in education. This Texas Strategic Staffing initiative promises to reshape how schools recruit, train, and retain effective teachers, ensuring that every student has access to the high-quality instruction they deserve,” O’Meara concluded.

For more on this partnership and other TAMIU College of Education programs, contact Dr. O’Meara at james.omeara@tamiu.edu, phone 956.326.2680, or visit campus offices in Anthony J. and Georgia A. Pellegrino Hall (PLG) 303. 

Registration for the Wintermester and Spring 2025 at TAMIU begins Nov. 4, 2024, at 8 a.m.  

University news and information can be found online at tamiu.edu and from TAMIU’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.