Harlingen CISD has been awarded a $599,746 grant from the Moody Foundation M-Pact Fund to launch an initiative focused on preparing the next generation of educators.
The program, titled P.A.T.H. to Teach: Preparing Aspiring Teachers in HCISD, is a three-year effort designed to equip students with the skills, experiences, and support needed to pursue careers in education.
“This is about creating opportunities for our students while also investing in the future of our schools,” Superintendent Dr. Veronica Kortan said. “We are proud to build a pathway that helps our students discover their passion and purpose, and then return to serve the community that shaped them.”
The initiative focuses on building a homegrown educator pipeline by guiding students from high school to college and back into HCISD classrooms as certified teachers. Through connections with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, students will receive support as they transition into higher education, complete teacher residencies, and begin their careers.
The program combines classroom learning with real-world experience, including workplace skills training, hands-on classroom experiences, and externship opportunities that connect learning to future careers in education.
“This investment allows us to be proactive in addressing teacher shortages by growing our own educators,” Board President Dr. Nolan Perez said. “Our students understand our community, and they are the future of our classrooms.”
The rollout of the program will take place over three years to ensure long-term success and sustainability.
