Eight paraprofessionals from several different school districts in Polk County are participating in a teacher preparation program that prepares paraprofessionals for Texas teacher certification. The program is offered through a new partnership between Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) and Sam Houston State University (SHSU). Through this program, cohorts of paraprofessionals employed by the school districts in the Polk County area enroll in LSCO’s Associate of Arts in Teaching program with courses being taught at the Texas State University System Polk County Center. When students within the cohort complete their AAT program with LSCO, they will have seamless transfer to SHSU to complete their bachelor’s degree in a teacher certification preparation program. The program is available to all who are interested, even individuals who are not paraprofessionals. For more information about any courses offered at the TSUS Polk County Center, please visit https://pcc.tsus.edu/, call 936-268-3048, or email advising@lsco.edu. TSUS Polk County Center is located at 1015 US 59 Loop North in Livingston. PHOTO BY EMILY BANKS WOOTEN
