Walking into the Harlandale Administration Building on Friday, Sept. 22, Leticia Flores was unaware of the incredible news that awaited her and a handful of other substitute teachers.
Flores has been a substitute teacher at Harlandale High School since the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Because of a special waiver approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) this week, she, alongside 11 other degreed substitutes, were surprised with the news that starting today, they were now teachers at Harlandale ISD.
“I was not expecting to hear this at all this morning, it feels like you're winning the lottery,” said Flores, who has been substituting 125 culinary arts students since August. “I felt a rush of excitement and actually jumped up and clicked my heels. I don't normally do that, but at this point in my life, I understand what that's all about— jumping out of excitement.”
As part of the TEA Waiver, the long-term substitutes with degrees, were hired as teachers at Harlandale ISD while they are working toward completing an alternative certification program.
"We are grateful to the TEA for approving these waivers and are excited to take advantage of this opportunity to hire more qualified teachers for our students," said Harlandale ISD Superintendent Mr. Gerardo Soto. "These waivers will give us the flexibility we need to fill vacant teaching positions and ensure that our students have access to the high-quality instruction they deserve."
Teachers with approved waivers will be able to teach at Harlandale ISD while they complete their alternative certification requirements and receive teacher pay. Once they have completed all of the requirements, they will be eligible to receive a standard teaching certificate.
"We are committed to doing everything we can to help our schools find and hire qualified teachers," said Dr. Melinda Salinas, Executive Director for Human Resources at Harlandale ISD. "We know how hard these long-term substitutes work for our students, so we are incredibly excited that these 12 individuals will get the pay and benefits they deserve while they work to get fully certified."
Flores, who received her Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management degrees from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, returned to the Harlandale community at the start of the year to take care of her mother. When she saw a culinary arts substitute was needed at one of the high schools, she knew it was meant to be.
“The staff at Harlandale ISD are a blessing. They have been extremely supportive and encouraging,” she said. “What I'm going to do now is go tell my mom. She retired from Harlandale after 42 years so she’s going to be happy to hear this.”
To apply for a position at Harlandale ISD, please visit www.harlandale.net/apply.
