“We are thrilled to welcome these regional collaboratives into our inaugural cohort,” said Sara DeLano, founding executive director of CREW at Dallas College. “Each partner brings unique insights and a shared commitment to reimagining how we prepare, support and retain future Texas educators.”
After a competitive application process that drew interest from more than 60 organizations, five regional collaboratives were selected. Each includes a network of school districts, educator preparation programs, community colleges and workforce development boards that represent a range of geographic areas.
The inaugural cohort includes:
Aldine ISD Collaborative
Partners: Aldine ISD, University of Houston–Downtown, Gulf Coast Workforce Board
Huntsville ISD Collaborative
Partners: Huntsville ISD, Education Service Center Region 6, Sam Houston State University, Gulf Coast Workforce Board
Midland–Ector Counties Collaborative
Partners: Midland ISD, Ector County ISD, Odessa College, University of Texas Permian Basin, Permian Basin Workforce Development Board
Tarrant and Surrounding Counties Collaborative
Partners: Alvarado ISD, Cleburne ISD, Everman ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Hill College, Education Service Center Region 11, North Central Texas Workforce Board, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County
San Antonio ISD Collaborative
Partners: San Antonio ISD, Education Service Center Region 20, Alamo Workforce Solutions
Each collaborative will receive support from CREW to design and implement GYO teacher apprenticeship programs aligned with the state's teacher strategy and apprenticeship quality guidelines. CREW will provide resources including strategic planning tools, individualized coaching and guidance on sustainable funding models.
“At San Antonio ISD, we know that it takes time and intention to prepare educators who truly reflect and uplift the students they serve,” said Dr. James Hilton Harrell, chief of human capital management at San Antonio ISD. “This partnership allows us to build a sustainable pipeline of homegrown teachers committed to the long-term success of our district and our community.”
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 (CREW)
The Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce (CREW) at Dallas College serves as a statewide hub for expanding high-quality GYO teacher apprenticeship pathways to overcome the growing educator shortage. In partnership with the Texas Education Agency, Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, CREW provides critical resources, technical assistance and training to help school systems, colleges, and workforce partners develop affordable, sustainable pathways into teaching. With a focus on high-need areas and underserved communities, CREW is building a stronger, more equitable educator pipeline across the state. For more information about the Center and its initiatives, visit Txcrew.org.
