Malakoff ISD Expanding Access to Graduate Study through Baylor Moody School of Education

WACO, Texas — Baylor University's Moody School of Education has entered a new collaboration with Malakoff Independent School District, giving the district's educators streamlined admission and targeted scholarships across several of the school's distance education programs.
The agreement is the latest in a series of district partnerships the Moody School of Education has pursued in the last year, part of a broader strategy to connect graduate-level teacher and leadership preparation directly to the districts and organizations that need it most.

“We are equipping our educators with the tools they need to pursue their personal and professional goals.” – Danielle Copeland, Executive Director of Human Resources at Malakoff ISD

Malakoff ISD serves between 1,400 and 1,500 students across six campuses in Henderson County, southeast of Dallas. District officials describe it as a district of innovation that leans on career and technical education alongside traditional academics, aiming to prepare students for college, the workforce or specialized training beyond graduation. That emphasis on multiple pathways for students, Baylor officials said, made the district a strong fit for a partnership built around expanding pathways for its teachers, too.

“Malakoff ISD is honored to collaborate with Baylor University to provide this exceptional opportunity,” said Danielle Copeland, the district's executive director of human resources. “By ensuring our staff has access to high-quality resources and opportunities for advanced learning, we are equipping our educators with the tools they need to pursue their personal and professional goals.”

New Avenues for Advancement

The collaboration centers on Baylor's distance education portfolio, giving Malakoff ISD employees access to scholarships that range from competitive tuition rates to priority enrollment discounts, depending on the program.

At the doctoral level, Malakoff ISD staff can pursue the online EdD in Learning and Organizational Change Leadership with an exclusive 8% priority enrollment scholarship, or the hybrid EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership, which carries a standard 50% scholarship and can lead to Texas superintendent certification. For educators eyeing campus leadership roles rather than the superintendency, the hybrid MA in School Leadership — which can lead to Texas principal certification — is also available through competitive scholarships.

Beyond leadership tracks, the partnership opens access to three programs focused on instructional design and technology: the online MS in Learning Design and Technology, the online Graduate Certificate in Learning Design and Technology, and the online Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning, each offering Malakoff ISD employees a 10% scholarship. The district's staff can also pursue the Dallas-based hybrid EdS in School Psychology at a competitive tuition rate.

For four of those programs — the EdD in Learning and Organizational Change Leadership, the MS in Learning Design and Technology, and both graduate certificates — Malakoff ISD employees additionally qualify for a waived application fee and the option to apply for credit toward prior work experience through a prior learning assessment, a process that can shorten time to degree completion for educators already working in the field.

A Broader Strategic Push

Terrill Saxon, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate studies and global engagement at the Moody School of Education, framed the agreement as part of the school's continuing effort to make its graduate programs more accessible to working educators, particularly in rural districts where access to advanced degrees can be limited by distance or cost.

“Partnerships like this reflect our mission at the Moody School of Education to expand access to high-quality, transformative graduate education,” Saxon said. “We are proud to collaborate with Malakoff ISD to support educators in a way that strengthens their professional growth while directly benefiting the students and communities they serve.”

Baylor University’s Moody School of Education is a nationally recognized leader in educator preparation, offering a comprehensive suite of graduate programs across the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Department of Educational Leadership, Department of Educational Psychology, and the Department of Professional Online Learning. With 5 PhD programs, 2 EdD programs, an EdS, and 9 master’s degrees—including flexible online, hybrid, and in-person options—the School prepares scholars, leaders, clinicians, and innovators who serve across K–12 education, higher education, community contexts, and industry.   

This collaboration is another step in the Moody School of Education’s continuing strategic initiative to collaborate with schools, districts, and educational organizations to support their educators. Rooted in research, community engagement, and global awareness—and guided by Christian principles—the Moody School of Education prepares professionals to lead with integrity and contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve. 

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.