An overview of Fort Bend ISD

Fort Bend Independent School District (ISD) is the seventh largest school district in Texas, and it continues to grow at a rapid pace. The school district’s 67 schools currently house more than 68,000 students, and the student population increases by about 2,000 students every year. In order to accommodate their growing numbers, Fort Bend ISD plans to add 13 additional campuses by the year 2015.

Unlike many school systems, Fort Bend ISD has not sacrificed their quality education for their increasing quantity of programs. The school district has received both state and national recognition. A Houston Chronicle report named Fort Bend ISD the “best-ranked district” in the Houston area based on a study of at-risk children. Two of the district’s high schools rank in the top ten high schools in the area. Governor Rick Perry also recognized Fort Bend ISD as the “Fittest School District in Texas” in 2005 and 2006. Seventy-two high school students from the district were named semifinalists in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. Also, the U.S. Department of Education named Fort Settlement Middle School a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School in 2007.

Fort Bend ISD also boasts a diverse student population that contributes to these successes. More than 30% of the student population is African American, 24% is white, 23% is Hispanic, and more than 20% is Asian/Pacific Islander. These students represent a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. More than 80 languages and dialects are represented among Fort Bend ISD’s students and their families.

Teaching in Fort Bend ISD

Because of the rapid rate of growth, Fort Bend ISD has a constant need for qualified teachers. The school system has a need especially for special education, Spanish, and bilingual teachers. New teachers currently earn a starting salary of $43,200.

If you want to come on board with the largest employer in Fort Bend County but do not have a teaching certificate, many programs are available to help you. For more information about Fort Bend ISD, check out their website at http://www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/

Alternative Certification Programs

Alternative Certification Programs are designed to help people who have a bachelor’s degree and a passion for teaching obtain the proper certification so that they can enter the classroom. The Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program (WCACP) is an online teacher certification program that allows future teachers to work toward obtaining their teaching certificate from the comfort of their own homes. If you are interested in teaching in Fort Bend ISD or any other school in the state of Texas but do not have time to go back to school full-time, WCACP may be the perfect program for you.

WCACP is conducted entirely online and is designed for students to work at their own pace. People with a full-time job can complete as much coursework in the evenings and weekends as they feel they can fit into their schedules. Students who dedicate a full-time effort to the program can finish in as little as 12-18 weeks. The online program, which includes chat sessions and videoconferencing with Program Directors and fellow classmates, serves as preparation for the year-long teaching internship that teaching candidates must complete prior to obtaining their standard certification. Students in the alternative certification program do have the option of completing their online coursework concurrently with this internship.

To enroll in WCACP, students must have a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution and must have at least a 2.5 GPA.

Thanks to the Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program, future educators in Fort Bend ISD and other Texas school systems can be well on their way to receiving the proper certification needed to enter the classroom and begin making a difference in the lives of their student.