people sitting at board meeting

COPPERAS COVE – Tuesday night, the Copperas Cove ISD Board of Trustees voted to renew its efforts to help staff become classroom teachers.

The board unanimously voted approve the purchase of professional development training modules through TeachWorthy, an alternative certification program CCISD has partnered with since the launch of the R.I.S.E. Program in August of 2022.

“Our R.I.S.E. Program has not only helped more than two dozen staff members work toward earning their degrees and certification, but we have found some of our most energetic, creative and effective teachers through the R.I.S.E. Program,” CCISD Deputy Superintendent for Instructional Services Mrs. Amanda Crawley said. “Our partnership with TeachWorthy, as well as with Indiana Wesleyan University, has been incredibly productive not just to the district in certifying great teachers, but to our staff who are enrolled in the program.”

R.I.S.E., short for Rising Instructors Soaring in Education, is a program which allows staff with some college credit to finish and earn their teaching certification without debt.

The program has placed more than 50 candidates in internship roles across the district with multiple high school graduates having earned their paraprofessional certification and in paraprofessional roles.

“The board’s renewal of CCISD’s partnership with TeachWorthy is a nod to the success of our R.I.S.E. Program and how it has greatly benefitted students,” CCISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns said. “We look forward to continuing to ‘Grow our own’ and develop the next cohort of great educators right here in CCISD.”

Additionally, the board unanimously adopted a Nonbusiness Days calendar to fulfill requirements set forth by House Bill 3033 for the current school year.

It also reviewed Dr. Burns’ and Board President Mrs. Joan Manning’s recent trip to the Oklahoma Association Serving Impacted Schools conference in Tulsa and adopted policy updates recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards.

The board is next scheduled to hold a regular workshop on Jan. 8th with a regular meeting the following evening.