Hillsboro ISD Educators Gain New Graduate Pathways through Baylor Collaboration

WACO, Texas — Baylor University's Moody School of Education is teaming up with Hillsboro Independent School District to make graduate-level education more accessible and affordable for local school staff.

"This partnership will significantly lower the cost for Hillsboro ISD educators seeking to further their education with advanced degrees." - Darrell G. Brown, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools

The agreement adds Hillsboro ISD to a growing list of Texas districts partnering with the Moody School of Education, part of a broader effort to strengthen educator pipelines and expand leadership development across the state. Through it, Hillsboro ISD employees gain streamlined access to Baylor's in-person and distance graduate programs, along with a set of financial and academic benefits built to lower the barriers to enrollment.

"I am pleased to collaborate with Baylor University," said Darrell G. Brown, Ph.D., superintendent of schools. "This partnership will significantly lower the cost for Hillsboro ISD educators seeking to further their education with advanced degrees."

Academic Pathways and Scholarships

For Hillsboro ISD educators weighing whether an advanced degree is within reach, the calculus just changed. The agreement opens access to nearly a dozen graduate programs across Baylor's campus and distance offerings, with scholarship support that ranges from modest tuition breaks to discounts covering half the cost of a degree.

Educators drawn to in-person study can choose from six residential programs, spanning classroom instruction, school leadership and clinical psychology:

• MA/MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction
• MA in Teaching with initial Texas teacher certification
• MSEd in Educational Psychology with Applied Behavior Analysis, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, Twice Exceptionalities, or General Educational Psychology tracks
• EDS in School Psychology
• MSEd in Higher Education and Student Affairs
• MSEd in Sport Management

The scholarships run deepest, though, in Baylor's distance and hybrid programs, built for educators who can't step away from their classrooms for a traditional degree:

• Online EdD in Learning and Organizational Change** **(exclusive 8% priority enrollment scholarship)
• Hybrid EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership (standard 50% scholarship) *can lead to Texas superintendent certification
• Hybrid MA in School Leadership (competitive scholarships available) *can lead to Texas principal certification
• Online MS in Learning Design and Technology** (exclusive 10% scholarship)
• Online Graduate Certificate in Learning Design and Technology** (exclusive 10% scholarship)
• Online Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning** (exclusive 10% scholarship)
• Dallas-based hybrid EdS in School Psychology (competitive tuition rate)

Baylor is also waiving application fees for the programs marked above with two asterisks, and educators applying to those programs can seek graduate credit for real-world classroom experience through the university's prior learning assessment process — a benefit that can shave months off the path to a degree for teachers who've already spent years honing their craft in Hillsboro classrooms.

A District Rooted in Community

Hillsboro ISD serves nearly 2,000 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade across four campuses in Hillsboro, about 35 miles north of Waco. Known locally as home of the Fighting Eagles, the district has built its identity around academics, fine arts, athletics and citizenship, with family values and neighborhood schools drawing new residents to the area.

"By expanding access to high-quality graduate education, we are helping educators grow as leaders while strengthening the schools and communities they serve." - Terrill Saxon, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Graduate STudies and Global Engagement

Partnering with Baylor's Moody School of Education strengthens that mission further. The school offers five PhD programs, two EdD programs, an EdS and nine master's degrees, preparing teachers, school psychologists and administrators to lead with integrity.

Terrill Saxon, Ph.D., associate dean of Graduate Studies and Global Engagement in the Moody School of Education, said the partnership reflects the school's belief in what drives lasting change in schools.

"This collaboration with Hillsboro ISD is grounded in our belief that strong schools are built by well-supported educators," Saxon said. "By expanding access to high-quality graduate education, we are helping educators grow as leaders while strengthening the schools and communities they serve."

As a Tier 1 research institution, Baylor is recognized for both academic excellence and practical, community-centered research. This latest agreement with Hillsboro ISD continues the university's faith-guided mission of building clear, attainable paths to professional growth for Texas educators.

ABOUT THE MOODY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

For more than 100 years, the Moody School of Education has advanced Baylor University's mission across the globe while preparing students for a range of careers focused on education, leadership and human development. With more than 70 full-time faculty members, the school's growing research portfolio complements its long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching and student mentoring. Baylor's undergraduate program in teacher education has earned national distinction for innovative partnerships with local schools that provide future teachers deep clinical preparation. Likewise, the Moody School of Education's graduate programs have attained national recognition for their exemplary preparation of research scholars, educational leaders, innovators and clinicians. Visit the Moody School of Education website to learn more.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The university provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.