Building Bridges to a Better Future: Texas AFT’s first fundraising event

Texas AFT will host its first fundraising event, Building Bridges to a Better Future, on Thursday, November 12 in Houston. The evening will celebrate our union trainers and the new teachers who completed our Alternative Certification Support Program (ACSP), and it will raise money to launch a new cohort of members who aspire to become certified teachers in the Houston area.  

How we got here 

Many dedicated educators work as support staff while aspiring to become certified teachers who prepare children to succeed in school and in life. Too often, they feel overlooked by systems that don’t prioritize their professional growth. They tell us they face a lack of guidance and resources, insufficient financial support, and competing demands on their time. With Texas public schools facing an ongoing teacher shortage, programs that help the educators already serving students are essential. 

Texas AFT recognized that support staff are rarely offered pathways for career advancement, and we committed to putting them in the spotlight. In June 2025, delegates to our state convention passed a resolution directing Texas AFT to create its own teacher training and apprenticeship program led by Dr. Claudia J. Morales, Bridges Institute Professional Development Director, and supported by Nikki Cowart, Cy Fair AFT President, and Jamie Womack, Bridges Institute Director. The result was the union-led Alternative Certification Support Program. We chose the name ACSP rather than ACP because our program is not yet an accredited Educator Preparation Program (EPP). 

To help members reach their goals, Texas AFT partnered with its affiliate, Cy Fair AFT, and iTeach to offer an Alternative Certification Program (ACP) at a lower cost. iTeach is an accredited educator preparation provider in Texas that lets participants complete coursework online at their own pace, making certification more manageable and accessible. Through this partnership, Texas AFT provided professional development and financial support, negotiated a discount on certification costs, and secured a $2,000 scholarship for eligible members who enrolled in the iTeach ACP. Cy Fair AFT, our local union, provided well-equipped learning spaces, breakfast and lunch, and all necessary materials for professional development sessions. Together, the three organizations created a supportive environment where aspiring teachers could thrive. 

Where we’re going  

The ACSP has served 18 participants, and five members have so far achieved their goal of leading their own classrooms. Their excitement about becoming eligible to be hired as teachers of record shines through in their words: 

“The AFT and iTeach cohort provided me with a supportive community I can turn to for guidance and encouragement throughout my teaching journey. The scholarship made pursuing a teaching career affordable and has made a significant difference in my family’s life. Thank you AFT and iTeach!”  — Guadalupe G.

“I’m grateful for Texas AFT for supporting me through my certification process.”  — Camille D. 

“This program changes lives.”  — Demetrius

L. 

Our participants worked diligently to achieve this success. One Saturday a month, they attended sessions where they learned research-based teaching strategies through AFT modules, preparing them to manage a classroom and work with diverse groups of students. They did all of this while continuing to work full time and completing their online coursework.

We are impressed by their dedication and inspired by their willingness to dream big and let us walk beside them. Goals that once seemed impossible have become reality with the support and guidance of a union that grows stronger every day because of people like them.  

Our goal is to replicate the success of this program and eventually offer this opportunity to any Texas AFT member across the entire state. This level of professional development will only be possible through continuous support. If you are in the Houston area on Thursday, November 12, please consider attending Building Bridges to a Better Future or pledging to help us meet the goal of a thriving educator workforce in Texas.