Interested in Teaching for HISD? Here Are Some Ways You Could 

In the last decade, the percentage of teachers across that state who start their first year without any traditional educational training has risen from 2.3% to 52.3%, according to University of Houston findings, pointing to a rise in nontraditional entries into the classrooms. 

With a decrease in education graduates and certified applicants, Houston ISD leaders say they are focused on cultivating aspiring educators choosing HISD for their teacher preparation and training by offering flexible pathways to certification, higher teacher salaries, and professional learning aligned to the district’s high-performing culture and high-quality instruction. 

“As we expand teacher pathways across the Houston area, we aim to fully leverage the talent that comes to us ensuring our students are taught by effective educators,” said Elizabell Garcia, senior executive director for teacher pipeline and certification.

District and Campus-Level Support 

With Garcia leading the district’s Teacher Pipeline and Certification department, district staff work closely with campus leaders to help aspiring educators earn the credentials they need to provide high-quality instruction. That support includes offering evening training sessions for those completing four-year degrees, scholarships to reduce or eliminate tuition costs, and paid training opportunities that allow candidates to earn income while gaining classroom experience.

In addition, the partnership between district and campus staff sustains mentorship programs between selected, effective teachers and aspiring educators. While aspiring educators undergo frequent observations from district and campus staff to grow their instruction skills, mentor teachers receive ongoing professional learning to build their leadership capacity, Garcia said. 

“If you have the dream to become a teacher, you don’t have to put your life on hold due to lack of opportunity,” she said. “We meet candidates where they are—and elevate their professionalism, leadership density, and instructional capacity.”

Certifications, Explained 

In order to be hired as a teacher, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that aspiring educators hold both a four-year degree and have passed certification exams related to the grade and subject they wish to teach. 

Certification involves passing a set of exams that demonstrate both subject knowledge and the ability to teach effectively. The specific tests required vary depending on the subject area and grade level.

Content exam 

Almost all grades and subjects require one or more content exams to demonstrate knowledge of the curriculum, with a few exceptions such as JROTC and some Career and Technical Education (CTE) fields. 

While some subjects only require a single core content exam, subject areas that involve literacy skills for students in preK to sixth grade require the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam. 

Additionally, aspiring educators may pursue supplemental subjects, which is another specialization that a teacher may add to their “belt,” or another certification in areas such as special education and bilingual education.  

Pedagogy exam

In addition to content exams, most first-time classroom teacher certifications also require a pedagogy assessment, which evaluates understanding of teaching methods and classroom practice—most commonly the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam. 

Non-classroom roles such as librarians, counselors, or educational diagnosticians may not require a pedagogy exam.  

Still in college? 

Through its teacher residency program, HISD  matches seniors in education programs from  Texas Woman's University, University of Houston, and University of Houston Downtown with mentor teachers to complete 750 on-the-job training hours while they prepare to take their certification exams. As teacher residents, these students can earn up to $50,000 while preparing to lead a classroom of their own. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Texas Tech University seniors can also apply for a teacher residency placement. 

Graduating with a four-year degree and certification in hand, these candidates may receive at least $70,000 their first year, with additional salary jumps depending on the campus and subject area. 

Bachelor’s degree, but no certification? 

Aspiring educators who hold a four-year degree but lack the certification required to teach their desired subject and grade level can complete the required coursework and certification tests while leading their own classroom. During the periods that they are uncertified, hired teachers are compensated as teacher apprentices and receive $68,000 annually. They undergo formal classroom observations from administrators at least once a month and receive feedback regarding their performance. 

These candidates, typically seasoned professionals pivoting into education or out-of-state teachers, enroll in a state-approved Alternative Certification Program (ACP) for which they must complete necessary coursework and pass necessary certification tests in a two-year period. 

In addition to ACPs associated with higher education institutions, such as Houston City College and the University of Houston, HISD offers its own ACP. 

Julia Morgan from Longfellow Elementary worked in the medical industry for 25 years before she transitioned to her first year of teaching while participating in the district’s internal ACP. Morgan described staying up to finish both classroom lesson plans and her ACP coursework, putting in extra hours to learn the fundamentals of classroom management she wouldn’t learn outside of an academic program. 

In her first year, she finished her certification and won “teacher of the year” for her school. The following year, she was recognized by the district for the same award. She credits her growth in the classroom to her bi-monthly observations paired with a curriculum that allows her to tailor the material for all learners. 

“Education is not for the faint at heart. But if you stay the course and stick with it, it does become easier,” she said. “They tell you it’s going to be hard, but they’re there to coach you along the way.”

 

Don’t have a bachelor’s degree? 

Classroom aids, including paraprofessionals, teacher assistants, and learning coaches, can apply to HISD’s Grow Your Own (GYO) program, which offers scholarships so current employees can continue working as an aid while taking courses online at Texas Woman’s University. 

Once courses are complete—typically in two years for associate degree holders—GYO participants complete all the necessary certification exams before beginning their one-year teacher residency program. Participants will move from their support roles as teacher aides to co-leading the classroom alongside an experienced teacher. They are compensated with an annual salary of $50,000 for those working five days a week. 

After the one-year residency, residents are placed at an HISD campus aligned with their subject and grade-level certifications. 

Karla Damien-Ibarra learned about the GYO program while she was a tutor hired by iEducate, a company that HISD partners with for tutoring. Knowing that being an HISD classroom aid was a requirement, she asked the principal if there were openings and was subsequently hired as a Teaching Assistant.  

Already having an associate degree, her pathway only required an additional year of coursework and five certification exams to teach all core subjects up to sixth grade with a bilingual supplement. 

Damien-Ibarra, currently a resident at Anderson Elementary, has already accepted a teaching position at Braeburn Elementary—returning to the very neighborhood where she was raised. Her passion for education began early, as she took play school seriously even as a child. Without the barrier of college tuition, she encourages anybody who may be interested to seek out information that may lead them to their own classroom. 

“You don't lose anything really in applying because of the zero to low-cost tuition,” she said. “Who doesn't want that, right?" 

 

Are You an International Educator?

HISD offers opportunities for qualified international educators through the H-1B visa program. The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa for professionals in specialized fields, typically issued for an initial period of three years and may be extended for a total stay of up to six years.

Many school districts across Texas use this pathway to fill critical shortage areas, which in HISD includes bilingual education, special education, high school math, and high school science.

From 2017 to 2025, HISD sponsored between 51 and 90 H-1B visas annually, based on U.S. Department of Labor data.

To qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship with HISD, candidates must:

• Receive a job offer from an HISD campus in a critical shortage area, listed above
• Hold a valid Texas certification in the subject they will teach before employment
• Provide either two years of effective appraisal ratings or two professional references on official, signed letterhead

Candidates must be fully certified to be eligible for employment under an H-1B visa; those who are not yet certified are not eligible for this pathway.

HISD also provides opportunities for highly qualified H-1B employees to pursue permanent residency based on district need and eligibility.

For questions related to visa sponsorship, please contact visa@houstonisd.org.

Still have questions? 

Interested candidates in either of the teacher pathways can reach out to teacherpathways@houstonisd.org.