For aspiring teachers Mila Cocker and Erika Malmberg, passion alone is not always enough. Through the Houston Teacher Pathways Scholarship and Spring Branch Independent School District’s THRIVE program, both are receiving the financial and professional support needed to complete their certification and build rewarding careers in the classroom.

Mila and Erika are teaching assistants at Tiger Trail and participants in the THRIVE program, the district’s “grow your own” educator pipeline that recruits, trains and retains future teachers by supporting them as they complete degree coursework and teacher certification.

They recently learned they are recipients of the Houston Teacher Pathways Scholarship, which provides $12,000 each to cover their remaining college coursework at Houston City College (formerly Houston Community College) and teacher certification at Texas A&M University–Victoria.

Pictured: Mila Crocker

“Through the THRIVE program, I found my true calling: working with kids,” Crocker said. “The Houston Teacher Pathways Scholarship will help me continue pursuing my passion, and I’m extremely grateful.”

To apply for the scholarship, candidates had to meet specific criteria, including being a full-time SBISD employee, a member of the THRIVE Registered Apprenticeship Program and having the highest GPA among THRIVE participants.

Applicants also completed a series of written responses, including an essay explaining which SBISD Core Values—Every Child, Collective Greatness, Collaborative Spirit, Limitless Curiosity and Moral Compass—resonates most deeply with them and how they hope to make a lasting impact on students’ lives.

Pictured: Erika Malmberg

“For a long time, I knew I wanted to work in teaching, but I didn’t want to go into debt to obtain the necessary certifications,” Malmberg said. “The THRIVE partnership with SBISD, Houston Community College and Texas A&M University–Victoria is helping me realize my dreams.”

The Houston Teacher Pathways Scholarship program, spearheaded by the Houston Endowment, is designed to help districts grow their own educators.

“By reducing financial barriers and allowing candidates like Crocker and Malmberg to focus on teaching and learning rather than juggling multiple jobs to fund their education, the scholarship helps the district maintain a stable, committed pipeline of teachers for the future,” said Reginald Peters, director of THRIVE Pipeline Development for SBISD.

“The program also fosters a reciprocal relationship: SBISD invests in future teachers, and those teachers invest their careers in the district.”

Both Crocker and Malmberg hope to remain in SBISD long term, citing the district’s support and strong sense of community.

“Tiger Trail is an amazing school with an incredible program and director, and I’d love to continue my teaching career there,” Crocker said.

Malmberg echoed those sentiments, noting the sense of belonging she has found within the school and district.

“I have grown to love the school and SBISD. It’s a good fit for me, and I can see myself flourishing here as an educator for many years to come,” she said.

To learn more about SBISD’s THRIVE program, visit springbranchisd.com.