Fort Hays State University is a small university in central Kansas which has developed a partnership with Alief ISD to provide their students the opportunity to conduct their field experience or student teaching in Houston at Alief ISD.  This is a relatively new partnership and we are excited to continue working with Fort Hays State University as they have a wonderful College of Education.

Alief ISD is excited to partner with GCU through our Participants in Learning, Leading, and Serving program (PLLS).  This program provides members of our school community with a variety of benefits, such as:

• PLLS student grant opportunity

• A 10% scholarship for PLLS faculty, staff, and governing board members

• A 15% scholarship for paraprofessionals and classified staff entering an online bachelor’s program through the College of Education, a Secondary Education Emphasis degree program, or a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management degree program

• A 5% scholarship for spouses of faculty, staff, and governing board members

• A 5% scholarship for students’ parents for degrees related to the field of Education

• Dual enrollment opportunities for students

• Professional Development and Speaker opportunities

• Access to the GCU Online Job Board

• Discounts on GCU academic and athletic camps, and events sponsored by K12 Educational Development

Fellowship is a teacher and principal, cohort model, prep program designed to aid Harris County Districts with addressing the various, multifaceted talent needs of their districts by finding, training and retaining high-quality teachers and principals.  The program is a rigorous teacher and principal preparatory model that teaches data-driven, relevant, evidence-based best practices in order to prepare Fellows for the rigors and opportunities of Urban Education.  The followship's standards for selection, preparation, and coaching are designed to ensure a high-quality educator workforce that meets the needs of all of our 21st century learners in Harris County school districts.

Alief ISD is excited to partner with Region 4 Teacher Preparation Transformation Center.  Our goal is to maximize each program's effectiveness through sustainable partnerships so that teachers receive the necessary support to develop into successful educators.  All elements of the work are rooted in equity and diversity.

Alief ISD is excited to partner with Relay Graduate School of Education to offer the Relay/Alief Residency! The Relay Teaching Residency is a two-year experience leading to teaching certification and a Master's degree.

The Relay Teaching Residency will provide Residents with a structured, supportive, and more sustainable on-ramp into the rewarding and challenging teaching profession, while also providing partner schools with a robust, diverse, and highly selective pipeline of teachers.  Residents will be well prepared to have a significant impact on student achievement in the classrooms where they work.

Alief ISD is dedicated to "growing our own" and has sought university-based programs to recruit degreed paraprofessionals to become certified teachers in high need and hard to fill areas.  The district has partnered with the University of Houston, NCRED to participate in a grant funded program, that focuses on developing Para Educators of color with a bachelor's degree an alternative, teacher residency pathway leading to EC-6 Special Education teacher certification. This cultivates coping and resilience strategies in the face of professional challenges and setbacks and fosters communities of practice through responsive and tailored co-teaching and mentorship support.  

University of Houston-Downtown "Gators2Teachers" Program and Alief ISD have collaborated to provide TAFE students that are Alief graduates with a pathway to education.  The program is focused on improving education in urban districts.  Alief is utilizing this partnership to "grow your own" teachers by recruiting Alief graduates that participated in the TAFE program.  Students will be eligible for paid student teacher/clinical practice in Alief and the district will look to place them in a teaching position upon graduation and completion of the state certification process.

The University of Nebraska - Kearney has partnered with Alief ISD for well over 30 years to allow their Education students to conduct their field experiences in our school district.  The Nebraska - Kearney students serve a 16 week field experience here ranging from Kindergarten through high school and all subjects.  This partnership allows for these student teachers to be paid while here in Alief ISD.  Many of the student teachers decide to stay in Houston and accept full time positions with Alief ISD.

The University of Nebraska - Lincoln has partnered with Alief ISD for well over 30 years to allow their Education students to conduct their field experiences in our school district.  The Nebraska - Lincoln students serve a 16 week field experience here ranging from Kindergarten through high school and all subjects.  This partnership allows for these student teachers to be paid while here in Alief ISD.  Many of the student teachers decide to stay in Houston and accept full time positions with Alief ISD.