Communities of Practice
Going Further, Together
US PREP works with regions to establish Communities of Practice—collaborative tables that bring together school district leaders, educator preparation leaders, and community stakeholders to address the most pressing challenges in educator development.
How It Works
A Data-Driven, Regional Approach
Each CoP convenes every three months, beginning with a close look at regional data on educator preparation, hiring trends, attrition, and placement. From there, participants form working groups around the critical areas of focus that emerge, addressing both immediate school needs and long-term systemic challenges.
Regional Spotlight - Houston
The Challenge in Houston
The Houston region serves more than 1.1 million students across 95 public traditional and charter school districts. Despite 18 local teacher preparation programs, the landscape tells a different story.
6
of 18 programs prepared most new teacher hires between 2022–2024
54%
of Texas candidates come from fast-track online programs—a rate Houston exceeds
2.5x
the rate at which online-prep teachers leave the profession vs. traditionally trained peers
The Houston Region Teacher Pipeline Community of Practice
A regional collaborative working to ensure every Houston-area student has access to a well-prepared, effective teacher through aligned partnerships across districts, preparation programs, and community organizations.
The Coalition
Houston Endowment, Powell Foundation & US PREP
In response to the region's educator development challenges, the Houston Endowment and the Powell Foundation partnered with US PREP to launch a dedicated Community of Practice in Houston.
The CoP brings district leaders, educator preparation leaders, and community stakeholders to one table every three months to build actionable strategies for quality teacher preparation pathways that serve the region's 82% students of color and 62.9% economically disadvantaged students.
Four Working Groups
Where the Work Happens
After analyzing the data, the Houston CoP identified four focus areas and established working groups for each. Participants voluntarily opt in—demonstrating their commitment to be part of the solution.
Working Group 01
Supporting Uncertified Teachers
Connecting uncertified teachers already working in classrooms to high-quality preparation programs, financial assistance, and mentorship throughout the certification process.
Working Group 02
Mentor Teacher Training
Developing framework standards and a shared repository of training materials so mentor teachers can effectively coach, give feedback, and support the social-emotional well-being of novice teachers.
Working Group 03
Residency & Apprenticeship Models
Expanding teacher residency and apprenticeship models across Houston—giving aspiring educators hands-on classroom experience alongside experienced mentors, with proven gains in retention.
Working Group 04
The Early Pipeline
Building clear pathways from high school through community college into educator preparation programs—with better advising, articulation support, and outreach to future educators.
Theory of Change
Strengthening the Teacher Preparation Pipeline
The CoP's work is rooted in a clear chain of cause and effect—every link reinforcing the next.
