Media Contact: C.C. Gonzalez-Kurz;
CGonzalezKurz@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — March 27, 2025
(DALLAS) — Dallas College today announced the launch of the Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce (CREW). This initiative will address the critical shortage of certified educators across Texas and serve as the statewide hub for developing and expanding teacher apprenticeships across the state by providing resources and guidance aligned to the priorities of the Tri-Agency Work Group.
“We are committed to breaking barriers that keep students from entering their chosen field,” said Dr. Shawnda Floyd, provost and vice chancellor of Dallas College Workforce Education. “Earning quality in-classroom experience prior to graduation will open up substantial opportunities for future teachers across Texas. Dallas College is proud to play a pivotal role in supporting local education agencies, institutions of higher education and local workforce boards in developing robust pathways into the teaching profession.”
The CREW at Dallas College will support school systems and institutions of higher education in building high-quality teacher apprenticeships that manage the financial burden and make it possible for aspiring educators to become teachers. This work has been informed by the Governor’s Teacher Vacancy task force and builds upon Texas’ existing talent pipeline investments — including Grow Your Own and Texas Strategic Staffing — all aimed at strengthening the teacher talent pipeline.
“The apprenticeship center will be a game-changer for aspiring teachers by giving them access to high quality preparation, coaching and invaluable experience in the classroom through innovative apprenticeship partnerships,” said Jessica McLoughlin, associate commissioner of educator preparation, certification and enforcement at the Texas Education Agency.
The launch of CREW comes at a critical time, with teacher staffing challenges reaching unprecedented levels nationally and the percentage of uncertified new teacher hires eclipsing certified new hires for the first time in Texas. The goal of CREW is to eliminate persistent educator workforce challenges in high-need certification areas such as special and bilingual education and in high-need localities, such as rural communities.
“Ensuring that our educators are well prepared is fundamental to the success of Texas students — from K-12, to higher ed, to career,” said Dr. Wynn Rosser, commissioner of higher education for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. “By strengthening the pathways between higher education institutions and our classrooms, we can cultivate a new generation of teachers equipped to meet the needs of all Texas students.”
The CREW at Dallas College will serve as a key resource for regional hubs and apprenticeship collaborators. It will provide tools, training and technical assistance to support partnerships in designing apprenticeship pathways that meet an acute workforce need and in sustainably funding these pathways.
This summer, the CREW will launch a cohort of collaborative work groups including institutions of higher education, workforce boards, school systems, education service centers and nonprofits. Selected collaboratives will serve as future teacher apprenticeship regional hubs. These hubs will play a critical role in scaling the apprenticeship model and quality guidelines statewide, ensuring a sustainable and high-quality talent pipeline for Texas schools.
“Teacher apprenticeships support efforts to connect Texas’ aspiring educators with successful careers, while addressing statewide demand for teachers,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Bryan Daniel. “The Texas Workforce Commission is committed to bolstering the expansion of teacher apprenticeship programs across the state.”
Please contact Sara DeLano, CREW founding executive director, at
SDeLano@DallasCollege.edu with any questions regarding the Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce.
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About Dallas College
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, Dallas College consists of seven campuses — Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland — plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County. As one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., Dallas College offers online and in-person learning, serving more than 127,000 credit, workforce and continuing education students annually. Students benefit from partnerships with local school districts, four-year universities, industry and community leaders. Dallas College offers associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing and software development. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 63 dual credit programs.
About the Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce Trailblazers
The Tri-Agency Work Group — comprised of the Texas Education Agency, Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board — is dedicated to enhancing the educational and workforce landscape in Texas by fostering collaboration and innovation across institutions.