COMET Program - How a Community-School Partnership Can End the Teacher Shortage

During the 2019-2020 school year, Superintendent HD Chambers visited with Oralia Rios-Williams (5Works Executive Director) and Baohan Phi (Alief Taylor High School graduate and current University of Houston College of Education student) on the significance of the COMET Program, a district initiative started by the superintendent. This initiative, which provides after school enrichment to elementary students in both apartment-based sites and school-based sites, has been supported by community organizations, the district, as well as an army of trained high school volunteers. Many of these volunteers return to the district to serve as certified educators or instructional support staff. They discuss what makes this program unique and the joys of teaching, and even learning from, some of our youngest learners.