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Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pathway

  • News
Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pathway

Just a few weeks ago, Ryan Arnott was crossing the graduation stage. Now, the Wylie East graduate is already on his way to becoming a certified teacher—completely free of charge, thanks to Wylie ISD.

Three Wylie ISD former students that are now paraprofessionals

WEHS Class of 2023 graduate Elisabeth Armendariz has been on this path for a year, and Wylie High School Class of 2021 graduate Alyebeth Seale is in her third year of this free-education journey. 

It's all made possible by Wylie ISD’s innovative Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pathway.

“Ultimately, it's a way to pay it forward to increase our teacher pipeline,” Casey Whittle, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, said. “The pathway takes students who’ve been through our schools and gives them a way to come back and serve their community.” 

Those interested in participating in the Para-to-Teacher Pathway must first be employed by Wylie ISD.

“There is a one-year work requirement [before starting the program] unless you are a Wylie ISD graduate,” Whittle said. “Then you can jump right in and get started. The goal is to attract people to work here while they go to school. If you love it here, we would love for you to stay here and let’s do this together.”

Former Wylie ISD student working with a current student as a paraprofessional

Armendariz, with two full semesters completed, has found the program immensely beneficial.

“Wylie helping me [to pay for school] takes a huge load off and relieves a lot of stress,” Armendariz said. “And it gives me a lot of experience with how to handle kids. The support through Wylie has been amazing. I have met so many great people because of this program. It has really set up my future. I’ve got a step up on starting my career.”

Unlike the traditional year of student teaching, participants in this pathway work as paraprofessionals. This allows them to earn a salary while attending Collin College.

“It’s like getting paid to student teach,” Whittle said.

Seale, currently an instructional aide at Akin, always dreamed of being a teacher.

Paraprofessional teacher in a classroom

“The Para-to-Teacher program has given me the resources to do it,” she said.

Seale, who has a passion for working with kids, says that the pathway puts her in a teacher’s role, allowing children to be a part of her daily life.

While in the program, she also served as a long-term substitute for a second-grade class when the teacher went on maternity leave.

“This program allows me to get a degree while also getting experience in the classroom,” Seale said. “It’s been really nice because the district pays for everything except books.” 

Wylie ISD covers the cost of undergraduate tuition for participants, and in return, participants commit to working in Wylie ISD for three years after graduating. After earning an associate degree in teaching from Collin College, participants apply to Texas Tech University’s TechTeach program to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

“So you don't feel overwhelmed with working full time; you can only take two classes at a time,” Seale said.

Former Wylie ISD student working with a current student as a paraprofessional

Arnott learned about the district’s Para-to-Teacher Pathway from Mrs. Jill Hill, his WETeach instructor at WEHS. He already has two years of experience in elementary education from practicum courses taken during his junior and senior years of high school.

The Para-to-Teacher Pathway allows participants to be employed full-time with the district while taking classes part-time.

“I like that I have the ability to get started right away,” Arnott said. “Otherwise, I may just be a student at Collin with a side job.”

Coming from a single-parent home with four other siblings, Arnott appreciates how the program eases the financial burden on his mom.

“I don't see myself anywhere but Wylie,” Arnott said. “Wylie has helped me grow a lot as a person and has helped me build connections with teachers and other students.”

For more information on the Wylie ISD Para-to-Teacher Pathway, please email the Wylie ISD Human Resources department.
 

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