UT Tyler, Overton ISD Partner to Enhance Educational Opportunities for District

 Partnership Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Addresses Teacher Shortage 

UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD (at left) and Overton ISD Superintendent Larry Calhoun sign a Memorandum of Understanding agreement Wednesday morning at Overton Independent School District’s boardroom. The partnership makes higher education more affordable for district educators while also addressing the teacher shortage.

TYLER, Texas (October 15, 2025) – The University of Texas at Tyler has partnered with Overton  Independent School District to provide discounted tuition rates for district employees wishing to  pursue advanced degrees at UT Tyler.

The partnership strengthens the district by making educational opportunities more accessible and  affordable for Overton ISD teachers and administrators.

“This partnership with UT Tyler represents an incredible opportunity for our staff to continue  growing professionally while remaining right here in our Mustang community,” said Larry Calhoun,  Overton ISD Superintendent. “UT Tyler is helping us remove barriers that often prevent great  teachers from becoming great leaders, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to  supporting rural schools and educators.”

UT Tyler is focusing on teacher education and how the university can help address the teacher  shortage in East Texas and the state.

UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD (at left) and Overton ISD Superintendent Larry Calhoun shake hands during the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony Wednesday morning at Overton ISD. This partnership will provide discounted tuition rates for district employees wishing to pursue advanced degrees at the university.

“I grew up in Overton, and I understand how vital these teachers are to the strength of our schools  and the future of our children,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “That’s why we’re  committed to building pathways for these wonderful educators to make an even greater impact.  We’re doing this together — with opportunity, support and a belief in what’s possible when we  invest in our own.”

Through its School of Education, UT Tyler will work with Overton ISD 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 online to accommodate  working educators. To learn more, visit uttyler.edu.

About Overton ISD 

Nestled in the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas, Overton Independent School District is a close knit, community-driven district serving about 530 students from Pre-K through 12th Grade. With  small-school values and big-school opportunities, Overton ISD takes pride in fostering strong  relationships, academic excellence and Mustang pride in every classroom, hallway and playing field.

About UT Tyler  

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.