FORT WORTH, TX — A new program at Tarrant County College takes aim at the shortage of qualified teachers in the region. TCC received its approval as an Educator Preparation Program offering an Alternative Teacher Certification pathway at the State Board for Educator Certification’s April 25 meeting.
The College now can certify aspiring educators in three high-need areas: Early Childhood – 6th Grade (EC-6), Special Education, and English as a Second Language (ESL).
The Alterative Teacher Certification program consists of eight courses, each 48 contact hours. The courses will be offered in eight-week terms, enabling candidates to complete the program in two long semesters before doing an internship.
Candidates who have finished the course and program requirements and passed the content area certification may enter classrooms as the teacher of record while completing the internship.
TCC Vice Chancellor and Provost Shelly Pearson said the SBEC approval culminates a five-year effort spearheaded by Dr. Shereah Taylor-Love, TCC South dean of social and behavioral sciences, and Dr. Jeff Herr, TCC South social and behavioral sciences department chair.
“Their leadership and the team’s unwavering dedication successfully navigated a complex application process that involved three separate sets of regional and state regulations,” she said. “This program will play a critical role in addressing the shortage of well-prepared, high-quality teachers in our community.”
TCC leaders expect the program to have a significant impact.
“Across the county, our community partners and school districts are experiencing significant shortages in early learning and community-based centers and in public schools,” Taylor-Love noted. “This new certification program will open doors for career changers and aspiring teachers, and provide a streamlined pathway into the profession.”
The program will launch this fall with 15-25 students in each cohort. Candidates will be prepared to meet the Texas Education Agency’s competencies in their respective content areas.
TCC appears positioned to be the institution of choice for many aspiring educators. All but six DFW school districts experienced an increase in teacher turnover after the 2022-23 school year, according to a Dallas Morning News story.
For more information, contact edprep@tccd.edu or 817-515-4715.
About Tarrant County College
Celebrating 60 years of excellence and impact in 2025, Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive community college with six campuses in Tarrant County, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.