Texas faces a growing shortage of certified early childhood and elementary teachers. With a $416,555 grant from Greater Texas Foundation to East Texas A&M University Foundation, the university will launch a fully online, competency-based teacher preparation program designed for paraprofessionals and career changers. By combining flexible pacing, field-based experience, and high-touch advising, the program will streamline certification, reduce time and cost to degree, and strengthen the state’s educator pipeline.