Our Story

Brazosport ISD’s journey to develop a pipeline of high-quality teachers:

Our story begins with a deep commitment to provide the highest quality education to each student in our school district. We are grateful for the support of our Board of Trustees and Superintendent for their vision and commitment to student success and the dedicated educators who serve them each day.

Our district has deeply invested in a series of innovative strategies to improve teacher recruitment, preparation and retention efforts, including ghost-organization hiring, creating locally funded “Grow-Your-Own” opportunities, securing funding to pay clinical teachers and the Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Brazosport ISD’s board of trustees recommended and approved the implementation of the Ghost Organization, and allocated 10 positions providing Human Resources with the ability to hire ahead of attrition for critical certification needs. Understanding the importance of attracting university students, Brazosport ISD board of trustees approved funding to hire and pay clinical teachers to complete their demonstrative teaching, which is traditionally unpaid.

Being the first employer-driven K-12 Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program in the nation, Brazosport ISD has created a cohesive talent strategy that encompasses the previously laid groundwork to develop high-quality teachers to serve students in our community. The Registered Apprenticeship Program is an effective, high-quality “earn and learn” model that provides structured, paid on-the-job learning experiences in our school district. Apprentices also benefit from job-related technical instruction with a mentor that leads to a degree and teacher certification. The apprenticeship program features a capstone experience in the final year of the program known as the Teacher Residency. A teacher residency is where a teacher candidate is paired with an experienced, highly effective mentor teacher for a full year of clinical training/co-teaching in a K-12 classroom. Residencies are paid experiences that take place at the undergraduate and post-baccalaureate level.

Our program demonstrates that the talent pipeline exists within our very own community, and with support, serves as a catalyst for individuals who have career aspirations to become a high-quality teacher.