During National Principals Month, TAMU-CC Announces Selection to TEA Principal Residency Program

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In an effort to increase the number of well-prepared, diverse instructional leaders, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is proud to announce its selection to the Texas Educational Agency Principal Residency Grant initiative for 2023-24 through the Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Administration with Texas principal certification online graduate degree program. The announcement comes in tandem with National Principals Month, celebrated each October.

The Island University is one of only 19 Texas universities and Education Service Centers to have an educator preparation program approved for the 2023-2024 TEA Principal Residency Grant cycle.

As a Vetted Principal Residency Program, the Island University will partner with public school districts and charter schools to provide principal residency opportunities. Teachers in eligible districts will be chosen to step out of their classrooms and into full-time, yearlong internship positions as assistant principals, where they will receive on-the-job training and support while completing the M.S. in Educational Administration and Principal Certification at TAMU-CC. The goal is to have successful residents hired by their school districts as soon as they complete the program.

Participating districts are eligible for TEA grant funds up to $80,000 per resident intern to help pay for their salaries, tuition, and principal certification exams. The next round of grants will be awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year, and districts must complete and submit a grant proposal to be eligible. Cycle 6 Principal Residency applications are now open through Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, at this link.

“We are honored to be vetted and among the elite educator preparation programs that were selected for the principal residency program and look forward to establishing partnerships with school districts to support the development of strong administrators to lead their schools,” said Dr. Bernadine Cervantes, TAMU-CC Coordinator of the M.S. in Educational Administration and Principal Certification Program.

School districts and charter schools interested in partnering with TAMU-CC can contact Cervantes at 361.658.3640 or bernadine.cervantes@tamucc.edu.

For more information on the residency grant application, districts can contact Ebony Love, TEA Educator Preparation Capacity Building Specialist, at ebony.love@tea.texas.gov.