For immediate release — March 10, 2021
(DALLAS) — Some middle and high schoolers who are virtually tutoring their friends and younger
siblings as an unofficial extracurricular activity this year because of the pandemic are now finding
that they love teaching.
To address burgeoning interest and the need for more teachers to enter the field, the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) is supporting a pathway to teacher education at five Early College High Schools (ECHS), in partnership with the new Dallas College School of Education and the University of North Texas-Dallas’ (UNT-D) Emerging Teacher Institute.
Dallas College and UNT-D have already been involved in one of the largest ECHS implementations in the nation. Dallas College itself partners with 15 school districts and 77 high schools to offer dual-credit pathways to certificates and degrees through Early College High Schools, Pathways to Technology (P-TECH) and T-STEM College and Career Readiness Models. In fact, in the Spring of 2020, a record-setting 628 Dallas ISD students — out of 875 who were enrolled at Dallas College — were ECHS graduates.
Teacher Education Pathways
ECHS and similar programs are attractive to students wanting to get a jump on their education because they offer both high school and tuition-free college credit. The programs are partnerships between the high schools and colleges that can greatly benefit a student who already knows the career path they want to take, such as teaching. The teacher education pathway program gives students the opportunity to take courses and gain valuable experiences and skills that will help them one day become effective teachers.
“The most valuable experience I’ve had is the ability to interact with the teachers who are like me and have had my same experience as a Latina student,” said Kimberly Argueta, a W.T. White High School teacher preparation student.
Other teacher preparation programs are offered through Bryan Adams Early College High School (ECHS), Lincoln B-TECH, Sunset P-TECH, Samuell ECHS and WT White B-TECH. Not only do all schools offer the teacher education pathway, but up to 125 students can start annually, and all programs offer success tools built into the program while also teaching students how to teach their future students.
Rachel Perez, another W.T. White High School teacher preparation student said, “The one-on-one tutoring has given me the opportunity to learn what it is to work in a classroom with students who have different learning styles.”
Early College High Schools Position Students for Success
During the ECHS program, students have the potential to earn up to 60 credit hours of an associate degree in four to six years — all tuition free. After high school graduation, students can continue tuition-free at Dallas College School of Education or UNT-D through the Dallas County Promise (DCP), a coalition of school districts, colleges, universities, employers and communities that have joined forces to help more Dallas County students complete college and begin careers.
Once students have graduated with a teacher certification, they can return to Dallas ISD where a teaching position will be waiting for them. Dallas ISD starting salary is $54,000 a year with signing bonuses for high-needs areas.
“With this program, Dallas College is poised to transform our region’s approach to developing educators as we look to a future where trained talent in this area will be critically needed,” said Dr. Joe May, chancellor of Dallas College. “Ultimately, this partnership will also improve individual economic mobility for our students through higher earnings and better job prospects associated with additional education.”
The application window is open now for teacher preparation students who will start ninth grade next Fall. To learn more about teacher education pathways through Dallas ISD, or to apply, visit
Choose Dallas ISD. For more information, visit
dcccd.edu/Education or call 972-273-3481.
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