June 5, 2026 | Beverley Golden
Partnership addresses teacher shortage across region and state
The University of Texas at Tyler has partnered with Jacksonville Independent School District to provide discounted
tuition rates for district employees wishing to pursue advanced degrees at UT Tyler.
The university remains focused on teacher education and how its School of Education can help address the teacher shortage in East Texas
and across the state.
“Welcoming Jacksonville ISD into our education partnership network reinforces our
mutual commitment to advancing educational excellence throughout East Texas,” said
UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD.
The partnership also strengthens the district by making educational opportunities
more affordable and accessible for its administrators and teachers.
“As a UT Tyler alum, I’m excited for this partnership with the university. Furthering our employees’
education affects not only their personal lives but enhances their ability to continue
to impact students,” said Jacksonville ISD Superintendent Brad Stewart.
UT Tyler will work with the district to offer an accelerated master’s degree in educational leadership with principal certification, as well as special opportunities for other graduate degrees. These programs are offered 100% online to accommodate working professionals. For additional information, visit uttyler.edu.
The mission of the Jacksonville Independent School District, in partnership with students,
family and community, is to ensure a quality education by maintaining high expectations
and providing a safe learning environment while developing citizens who are lifelong
learners in an ever-changing, competitive world.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and
beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than
11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT
Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality
education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie
as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university,
UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.