The Victoria Independent School District (VISD) is excited to share updates on the BRIDGE Program, which continues to empower aspiring educators. The program, developed in partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), allows participants to earn a teaching degree while serving as full-time classroom instructors.
BRIDGE Cohort 1
During the 2023-24 school year, 47 participants completed Year 1 of the program, 45 of whom served as classroom instructors. Participants completed five VISD courses for 15 hours of college credit with IWU and earned an additional 15 hours of college credit. Leslie Ortiz, a STEM Middle School instructor, earned her teaching degree from Grand Canyon University and transitioned to the UNITE Program for alternative certification.
In the 2024-25 school year, 41 Cohort 1 participants will continue as classroom instructors, completing VISD Courses 106-110 for an additional 13 hours of college credit. Amy Fulkerson from Chandler Elementary and Erica Pierce from Mission Valley Elementary graduated from IWU and have transitioned to the UNITE Program. Five more participants are expected to graduate this December and move on to certification.
BRIDGE Cohort 2
In 2024-25, 27 new participants will begin Year 1 of the BRIDGE Program, having already completed VISD Course 101 during the summer and all serve as classroom instructors in the district. These educators will work towards completing the first five VISD courses for a total of 15 hours of college credit added towards their teaching degree if they attend IWU. BRIDGE participants are currently enrolled in IWU, University of Houston-Victoria (UHV), and Victoria College transitioning into UHV.
Created last year as an innovative approach to addressing the shortage of qualified teachers in the district, the BRIDGE program provides a pathway for educators who have been employed as a paraprofessional or substitute in VISD for at least one year and receive a strong recommendation from their campus administrator.
VISD's BRIDGE Program continues to grow, offering participants comprehensive training through courses designed by the district’s BRIDGE Coordinator and Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability Department. This unique collaboration prepares educators with the skills needed to make an immediate impact in the classroom while advancing their careers.