TVCC Launches Bachelor's Program to Tackle Teacher Shortage Crisis
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Via TVCC
From rural towns to major cities, and across political lines, school districts across the United States are facing an urgent challenge: a growing teacher shortage that is threatening student achievement and straining public education systems.
Trinity Valley Community College is answering the call with the launch of Bachelor of Arts and Applied Science (BAAS) program in Early Childhood Education and Teaching (ECET), set to begin in Fall 2025, with the aim of directly addressing the teacher pipeline problem in its five-county service area.
According to the Learning Policy Institute, more than 400,000 teaching positions across the country were either vacant or filled by educators not fully certified for their assignments in the last year alone representing 1 in 8 classrooms nationwide. In Texas and beyond, many of these shortages are most severe in early education, especially in schools that serve high numbers of students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.
“This is about more than just creating a new degree—it’s about answering a call to action,” said TVCC President Dr. Jason Morrison. “We heard from our local school districts about their struggle to recruit and retain teachers. Trinity Valley knew we could step in and help fill that gap.”
TVCC’s new degree program is designed to directly counter these trends.
“Providing this opportunity not only benefits our students but also supports our local school districts as they navigate these teacher shortages,” said Dr. Spencer Wagley, Vice President of Instruction. “We’re focused on long-term impact—helping our students build meaningful careers and helping our schools stay strong.”
Key to the program’s accessibility is its flexible, online-based format, making it especially ideal for working paraprofessionals already employed in schools who want to advance their careers. These individuals are often deeply rooted in their communities and bring valuable classroom experience—precisely the kind of educator's schools need most.
With the curriculum designed by teachers for teachers. The program is designed in collaboration by a team of former public-school educators and leadership who understand the demand and feel the need to supply the workforce.
“Our children need teachers who care, who are prepared, and who are willing to take on the responsibility of shaping young minds,” said Professor and Director of Education and Teaching Suzette Stringer, “At TVCC, we’re creating a path to make that possible.”
The curriculum, designed collaboratively by Professor Stringer, Division Chair Amy Rogers, and Associate Vice President of Instructional Innovation Holley Collier, ensures that students gain both academic knowledge and real-world application. The team’s efforts have been guided by AVP of Academic Affairs Erica Richardson, with support from TVCC leadership including Dr. Morrison and Dr. Wagley.
“A program like this is transformational,” Stringer said. “You’re not just educating future teachers—you’re shaping entire communities. And we believe Trinity Valley is exactly the right place to do that.”
To apply for the program, go to bachelors.tvcc.edu.