Kilgore ISD offers future teachers an opportunity to get hands on experience while obtaining degree

KILGORE, Texas ( KETK ) — Kilgore ISD is offering college students the option to get experience as teachers while obtaining their degree with a new program.

“We are looking for candidates who already have 50 or more college hours,” Principal of Kilgore Middle School Dr. Cynthia Lindley said. “They are wanting to be an educator, and they have some sort of skill set that will meet the needs of those positions that are hard to fill.”

The program aims to fill instructor spots while allowing partcipants to finsih their own education.

“With the aspire program i get to finish my college hours while working being an instructor in the classroom.” Aspire participant Tiffany Clower said. “As a single mom sometimes, you can’t find the time to finish those college hours because you know life happens. With this I’m already working I’ve been coming you know I come here every day anyways.”

Participants will work for a reduced teacher salary with the difference in pay going back towards their education. The program will bridge students eager to learn and amend the teacher shortage.

“We recognize that we are going to have to be more innovated with the ways in which we recruit our staff,” April Cox, Executive Director of Administrative Services said. “Also how we continue to support and grow so they will stay with the teaching career.”

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