Texas A&M System’s We Teach Texas campaign puts focus on teacher preparation

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — As school districts across the state scramble to hire qualified teachers, The Texas A&M University System is putting a spotlight on the education preparation programs across its 11 universities.

The campaign, “We Teach Texas,” affirms the role of teachers and recognizes that the Texas Economic Miracle depends upon an educated workforce.

“Every success story starts in a classroom…become a teacher,” the campaign encourages. The 11 education colleges in The Texas A&M University System graduate more fully-certified teachers than any other public university system in Texas.

“We at the Texas A&M University System know the teachers are on the frontlines of building our economy and enablers of young people reaching their dreams. We further recognize that higher education institutions prepare educators — a responsibility we take seriously,” said Elaine Mendoza, Vice Chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

“As such, schools and principals want teachers from the A&M System because they are so well prepared,” Mendoza said. “From Day One in our programs, our teacher candidates are working with students — they’re getting the tools they need so they are ready to teach from Day One in the classroom.”

That’s increasingly important as school districts across Texas are finding it harder and harder to hire qualified teachers.

Data from the Texas Education Agency shows Texas faces an increasingly tight supply of teachers. Since 2009, K through 12 student enrollment is up by 14 percent, while the number of teachers has risen by less than 9 percent. And in the past decade, Texas has seen a 14 percent drop in the number of initial teacher certifications.

“The need is clear and we are stepping up to meet it at each of the 11 education colleges in The Texas A&M University System,” Chancellor John Sharp said. “We Teach Texas, and if you want to be a teacher we can help you make that dream real. We are committed to your success.”

Sharp said he hopes the We Teach Texas campaign reaches school administrators desperately scrambling for great teachers. “We want them to know, when they hire an A&M System graduate, they are getting a teacher who’s ready for the classroom on Day One,” Sharp said.

The Texas A&M University System has been providing highly qualified teachers for Texas Schools for more than 100 years by encouraging consideration of teaching careers, growing the highest quality teacher and leadership programs, and providing ongoing quality support to boost retention in the field.

“The results speak for themselves,” Sharp said. “The Texas A&M University System is succeeding at teaching teachers in Texas because we are dedicated to the mission.”

The Texas A&M University System is:

• No 1. in the overall production of Initial Educator Certificates when compared to other public university systems in Texas.
• No. 1 in the production of Initial Educator Certificates in Mathematics when compared to other public university systems in Texas.
• No. 1 in the production of Initial Educator Certificates in Bilingual Education when compared to other public university systems in Texas.
• No. 1 in the production of Initial Educator Certificates in Special Education when compared to other public university systems in Texas.
• No. 1 in the production of Initial Educator Certificates in teacher shortage areas when compared to other public university systems in Texas.

The campaign will highlight the education colleges at Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Tarleton State University, West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M International University, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Texas A&M University-Central Texas and Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $4.7 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 153,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $996 million in FY 2017 and helped drive the state’s economy.

Contact: Laylan Copelin
Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
(979) 458-6425
(512) 289-2782 cell
lcopelin@tamus.edu