ECISD can now develop teachers locally

In an ongoing effort to ensure every student has a highly-qualified, highly-effective teacher in the classroom, Ector County ISD took a historic step forward this morning when the State Board for Educator Certification unanimously approved ECISD’s educator prep program, Odessa Pathway to Teaching.

Ector County ISD becomes just the third school district in Texas to have a teacher preparation and certification program, a news release said.

“We are thrilled with this unanimous approval,” ECISD Superintendent Scott Muri said in the release. “Having the ability to certify our own teachers is another tremendous step forward in growing and developing our own outstanding teachers. ”

ECISD Executive Director of Talent Development Ashley Osborne said the district is committed to preparing teaching candidates to be highly effective teachers.

“The Odessa Pathway to Teaching Program allows our district to cultivate talent pipelines and ensure high quality teachers are working with our students every day. Candidates in the Odessa Pathway to Teaching program are supported throughout their experience, from selection and preparation through their internship year and beyond,” Osborne said in the release.

When ECISD implemented OPT it operated under the umbrella of TNTP, The New Teacher Project. Beginning on Sept. 1, OPT is fully ECISD’s teacher training and certification program. It is coordinated by the district’s Talent Development Department and is centered around hands-on, in-person training with experienced ECISD educators. It is open to candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming a teacher. ECISD teachers and instructional leaders, with years of classroom experience, have designed this specialized training program, focusing on the most important skills effective educators bring to their classroom.

Applications for Odessa Pathway to Teaching will be accepted this fall for anyone interested in joining. Contact the Talent Development Team at 432-456-0089.