New State Investment Doubles Teacher Resident Stipends, Expands Islander Residency to 70 Future Educators
Texas is making a major investment in the future of public education, and Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi is poised to play a leading role.
The PREP Program Allotment passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025 provides substantial funding through Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) Cycle 4 Program Grants to expand high-quality educator preparation. One of the most significant local opportunities is the PREP Pre-service Residency Program, which supports paid, year-long teaching residencies for teacher candidates through partnerships with public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.
TAMU-CC and school districts collaboratively select teacher residents who will co-teach alongside expert mentor teachers (hosts) for a full academic year. Research shows that residency program participants become more effective teachers and remain in the profession longer than those prepared through alternative pathways.
TAMU-CC’s established residency model provides a strong foundation for success. launched its residency program with the support of US PREP in Fall 2022 with 10 Islander Residents placed in Corpus Christi ISD (CCISD) and Gregory-Portland ISD (GPISD). Dr. Robin Pizzitola served as the inaugural Site Coordinator, working alongside host teachers and district administrators to provide ongoing support and coaching as residents develop the competencies needed for classroom success — a collaboration that has significantly deepened our partnerships with district stakeholders. The Islander Residency program has since expanded to five surrounding districts.
In Fall 2025, 43 Islander Residents working with three site coordinators were hired by CCISD, GPISD, Flour Bluff ISD, London ISD, and West Oso ISD, each receiving a $10,000 stipend while completing their degree requirements. Host teachers received stipends ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 each for mentoring a resident and participating in professional development designed to strengthen their coaching skills. LASO-4 funding will increase resident stipends to $20,000 for the academic year and guarantee mentor teachers a minimum stipend of $2,000.
LASO funding has substantially increased the number of students participating in Islander Residency. In Fall 2026, 70 future teachers will begin working alongside their hosts across the five established residency districts. Five additional districts have applied for funding to begin hosting residents in future semesters, two of which have been awarded the PREP Strategic Staffing Grant to support the development of successful year-long residencies in partnership with the Region II Educational Service Center. Ten others have been awarded The PREP Grow Your Own Program that provides funding to support current district employees in completing their bachelor's degrees and teacher certification along with high school students pursuing career and technical education pathways toward careers in teaching.
Dr. Robin Pizzitola, currently serving as Lead Site Coordinator for Islander Residency, will assume the role of Associate Dean for Assessment, Accreditation, and Community Engagement in Fall 2026.