UT Tyler, Brownsboro ISD Partner to Enhance District Educational Opportunities
(from left) Brownsboro Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Keri Hampton and UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD
Partnership addresses teacher shortage across region and state
TYLER, Texas (September 1, 2026) – The University of Texas at Tyler has partnered with Brownsboro Independent School District to provide discounted tuition rates for district employees wishing to pursue advanced degrees at UT Tyler.
Through its School of Education, UT Tyler remains focused on teacher education and improving East Texas K-12 outcomes while also addressing the regional and statewide teacher shortage. In May, the university announced the appointment of Dr. D. Robert DeHaas as the school’s dean to lead these initiatives.
“Dr. DeHaas brings the vision, experience and collaborative spirit necessary as we work with communities to help meet the educational workforce needs across East Texas,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “This agreement reflects the strength of a longstanding partnership and our collective commitment to creating meaningful opportunities that benefit the region we serve.”
Beyond the benefits for current employees, this partnership represents a strategic investment in the future of public education across the region.
“Our employees are one of the greatest investments we can make in the future of Brownsboro ISD,” said Dr. Keri Hampton, Superintendent of Brownsboro ISD. “We want to create meaningful opportunities for our teachers and staff to continue learning, growing and advancing in their education careers. This partnership with The University of Texas at Tyler helps make advanced degrees and professional certifications more accessible to our employees. When we invest in our staff, we are investing in the knowledge, skills and experiences they bring to the classrooms each day, and ultimately, in the success of every student we serve.”
UT Tyler will work with the district to offer an accelerated master’s degree in educational leadership with principal certification as well as special opportunities for other graduate degrees. These programs, housed within the School of Education, are offered 100% online to accommodate working professionals. Visit uttyler.edu to learn more.
About Brownsboro ISD
Brownsboro Independent School District serves students in Brownsboro, Chandler and surrounding communities across six campuses. Committed to encouraging, empowering and equipping every student to reach their full potential, BISD provides opportunities for students to learn, lead and grow in academics, athletics, fine arts, career and technical education, and beyond. Guided by its
vision, “Together We Rise. Together We Lead.,” Brownsboro ISD is dedicated to building strong relationships, fostering continuous growth and preparing every student for future success. For more information, visit gobearsgo.net/.
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.