Hempstead ISD is one of four school districts selected to benefit from the Teacher Quality Partnership grant through Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU).
The District, in partnership with PVAMU and TAMU, will help provide support for PK-12 employees to grow and become effective teachers and school leaders. In the fall, the PVAMU Whitlowe R Green College of Education received a $6.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. According to an article shared by the U.S. Department of Education, the five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grant will “help recruit, prepare, develop and retain a strong, effective and diverse teacher workforce for classrooms.”
PVAMU will use the grant to develop its Leading Equity Diverse Environments with Revolutionary Synergy (LEADERS) initiative, by partnering with schools like Hempstead ISD and helping to produce highly qualified teachers and leaders. In addition to Hempstead ISD, the LEADERS program will also provide support to other high-needs school districts including Brenham ISD, Houston, ISD, and Sheldon ISD.
“This grant will not only help Hempstead ISD address staffing shortages but will also allow us to develop a grow-your-own program, empower our staff who are interested in becoming teachers and future principals, and help better meet the needs of our students,” Hempstead ISD Superintendent of Schools, Herbert O’Neil said.
District leaders are looking forward to continuing collaborative efforts with PVAMU to impact the students and staff of Hempstead ISD.