When we think about improving postsecondary success, our minds often jump to college access, persistence, or completion. But those outcomes begin much earlier with educators who inspire curiosity, build confidence, and help students discover how they learn best. As philanthropy continues to explore strategies for advancing educational attainment and economic mobility, educator preparation deserves to remain at the forefront of the conversation.
At Trellis Foundation, we are exploring investments in educator preparation because effective educators are among the most influential drivers of student success. By strengthening the preparation, support, and development of teachers, we help create learning environments that improve educational attainment and expand pathways to economic mobility for students across Texas.
Educator Preparation Matters More Than Ever
Serving as both a program officer and a postsecondary educator has given me a unique perspective on this work. In the classroom, I see firsthand how evidence-based teaching practices shape student engagement, persistence, and confidence. In philanthropy, I have the opportunity to invest in organizations that are preparing the next generation of educators. These complementary experiences have strengthened how I evaluate opportunities, engage with grantees, and identify ways to leverage and amplify lessons that can benefit institutions and students across Texas.
One example is Trellis Foundation’s investment in Texas Tech University’s Integrating the Science of Learning initiative. The Science of Learning draws from cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, and education to better understand how people learn. Rather than relying solely on tradition or intuition, educators are equipped with research-based instructional practices such as retrieval practice, spaced learning, metacognition, and timely feedback that improve student learning and retention.
This investment resonates with me on a deeply personal level. During my first few semesters of college, I found myself on academic probation. It wasn’t because I lacked the ability to succeed; I simply hadn’t yet learned how I learned. Once I discovered strategies that aligned with the way I processed information, everything changed. I went from academic probation to the Dean’s List and ultimately earned a Doctorate in Education.
That experience continues to shape my perspective as a program officer. I’ve seen firsthand that when educators understand how students learn and intentionally apply evidence-based teaching practices, students become more engaged, develop greater confidence, and are better equipped to persist through challenges. Supporting initiatives like Texas Tech’s Integrating the Science of Learning project helps ensure future educators enter the classroom with practical, research-informed strategies that can unlock student potential from the very beginning of their careers.
Strengthening and Diversifying the Educator Pipeline
Trellis Foundation’s investment in United to Learn reflects how strong partnerships between nonprofits, school districts, and higher education institutions can prepare aspiring educators while simultaneously improving learning outcomes for elementary students. By combining authentic classroom experience with mentorship and professional development, these models strengthen educator preparation while addressing immediate instructional needs within schools.
The Foundation has also prioritized investments in educator preparation at Texas’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through the BranchED-facilitated Arise & Shine Educator Preparation Cohort, supporting Prairie View A&M University, Paul Quinn College, Wiley University, Texas Southern University, and Huston-Tillotson University as they strengthen and expand pathways into the teaching profession. For generations, these institutions have prepared outstanding educators who serve communities across the state. Investing in HBCUs recognizes their critical role in developing highly qualified teachers while expanding pathways for a more diverse educator workforce.
Research consistently demonstrates that students benefit from learning environments where they experience belonging, high expectations, and strong relationships with educators. Strengthening educator preparation at HBCUs helps build a workforce that reflects the diversity of Texas while creating greater opportunities for all students to succeed.
Across these investments, one theme continues to emerge: educator preparation is not simply about preparing teachers. It is about strengthening the entire educational ecosystem.
As we work to improve outcomes for the next generation, each of us has a role to play within that ecosystem. Whether as educators, funders, policymakers, community leaders, or advocates, we must continue expanding access to high-quality learning opportunities, supporting systems that foster belonging and student success, and investing in innovative approaches that meet the needs of learners from every background.
If understanding how I learned could change the trajectory of my own educational journey, imagine what’s possible when every future educator enters the classroom equipped with that same understanding. Through our investments, we’ve learned that strengthening educator preparation is one of the most effective ways to create lasting, system-wide impact because every well-prepared educator has the potential to influence hundreds, if not thousands, of students over the course of a career. Investing in educator preparation isn’t simply about preparing teachers; it’s about creating opportunities that can change the trajectory of students’ lives for generations to come.