Monday, Mar 24, 2025 • Cristal Gonzalez : contact

A gift of $250,000 from the Sid W. Richardson Foundation will support and expand The University of Texas at Arlington’s Alternative Certification Program (ACP) in the College of Education.

The fully online, self-paced program offers a pathway for aspiring teachers with a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field to earn their teacher certification. Developed by the College of Education’s faculty and staff, the program aims to address the teacher shortage in Texas and across the nation by preparing candidates to become highly qualified teachers.

“We are grateful to the Sid W. Richardson Foundation for supporting the preparation of future educators in the Alternative Certification Program,” said Ann Cavallo, interim dean of the College of Education. “Here at the college, we are all working diligently to ensure our traditional and non-traditional students receive the highest quality of education to meet the needs and demands of Texas classrooms.”

School districts in North Texas and across the state continue to face challenges in filling vacancies with certified teachers. The Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) 2024 annual report found that 56% of first-time teachers hired during the 2023-24 school year lacked certification.

UTA’s two-phase program meets TEA requirements and prepares candidates for teaching certification exams. Aspiring educators receive curriculum, instruction and mentorship from the college’s faculty and staff and complete 50 hours of classroom observation and field experience to ensure they are ready for full-time teaching roles.

Shirley Vela ('23 BS, University Studies), a current ACP student, says she is one exam away from becoming a certified teacher in Texas. She started the program in October 2024.

“When I graduated from UTA with my university studies degree, I had about a year left to complete the early childhood education degree,” Vela said. “When I realized I wanted to go back to school, I saw that UTA had the ACP program, and it made much more sense for me financially and timewise to enroll in the program.”

After finishing her modules, Vela started her clinical teaching stint in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, where she has made connections with her cooperating teachers and received mentorship from educators with more than 20 years of classroom experience.

“What I’ve gained most through ACP is time; it has just been amazing how much I’ve accomplished since I enrolled,” Vela said. “I know my first-year teaching is going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to being in the classroom.”

Statewide school districts rely on UTA’s education program to ensure classrooms—especially those in special education and bilingual/ESL—have well-trained, qualified educators.

“Investments in growing great teachers are investments in bright futures for our kids. They deserve the very best,” said Pete Geren, president and chief executive officer of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. “UTA has a long history and a successful track record in strengthening the educator workforce here and all across Texas.”