Teacher Adoption Program

Not anymore. The Midland Chamber is now able to accept applications from all Midland, Texas, K-12 Teachers including private and charter schools.

Yes, but for TAP to facilitate the relationship the teacher must also apply to the program. If you already know the teacher and have their contact information, you do not have to go through our application process and can initiate the relationship on your own. We do ask that you consider adopting a teacher that you do not already know. This will help them build more connections and relationships within our community.

If you already know or have a relationship with a teacher, you do not have to sign up for the program. The primary function of TAP is making an introduction for teachers who need additional support with community members wanting to help.  Although, if you would like to be added to our monthly e-mail list to receive ideas on how to continue to encourage your teacher, please let us know.

No. Only the person that will be the primary contact for the teacher must complete a background check/application.

• ​Teachers' responses* to “What are your greatest challenges as an MISD teacher?”: 
  • Top answer: New to Midland/Loneliness
  • 2) Lack of teaching resources
  • 3) Lack of respect/community support
    *In a survey of 935 Midland ISD teachers
• Teacher attrition rate is on the rise: “Levels of attrition are estimated to be nearly 8% of the workforce annually and are responsible for the largest share of annual demand (of teachers). The teaching workforce continues to be a leaky bucket, losing hundreds of thousands of teachers each year—the majority of them before retirement age. Changing attrition would change the projected shortages more than any other single factor.” [Learning Policy Institute]
• High teacher attrition rate is tied to a decline in education quality: “The cost of attrition to student learning and district budgets is significant. Teachers are the number one in-school influence on student achievement. Research finds that high rates of turnover harm student achievement.” [Learning Policy Institute]

The form you fill out when signing up for the program contains many questions that ask for details about you. We compare the answers to these questions and try to match a teacher and adopter that have some similarities.