Recruiting Underway for Head Start Teachers to Attend TAMIU

Leading the effort to improve the education of children ages 3 – 5, Texas A&M International University’s College of Education’s department of special populations is still recruiting Head Start teachers for its “Excellence in Early Childhood Education: The South Texas Hispanic Early Childhood Collaborative.”

Eleven teachers from the Webb Country Head Start Program and Texas Migrant Council learning centers in Laredo have already signed up for the program. As part of the program, also known as E3, they will be able to work full-time while they obtain their BS degree in Early Childhood Education and a teaching certificate in Bilingual Education. The program will also provide students with highly-experienced, certified public school teachers to monitor and mentor new teacher candidates in their workplace.

The program is made possible by a $139,000 federal grant, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and is renewable for a total of five years, dependent upon federal approval.

The grant proposal was created by TAMIU, the Webb County Head Start Program and The Texas Migrant Council. The award was received on Oct. 1, 2005 and is not fully operational. The principle investigator for the program is Dr. Ramón Alaníz, associate dean, College of Education.

Eligible candidates for the program will be selected and prepared in accordance with the guidelines, criteria and standards set forth under the “No Child Left Behind” Act.

For more information, please contact Valerie Tijerina, associate director, at 326.2692.

University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu