In Newsweek’s America’s Education Series, released last week, Cleveland ISD and its Superintendent Stephen W. McCanless were highlighted for the District’s remarkable growth and innovative approaches to education.
Recognized in 2019 by the Texas Education Agency as the fastest-growing district in Texas, Cleveland ISD’s student population has surged to more than 12,300, with projections to reach 27,000 by 2031.
Superintendent McCanless, who joined the district in 2013, has overseen this tremendous expansion. Despite the rapid growth, McCanless believes in the importance of maintaining the district’s unique identity and community spirit.
“Many organizations tend to lose their identity as they become bigger; I did not want that with our school,” he told Newsweek. “We needed to focus on things that made Cleveland ISD so great.”
This focus on preserving the school’s heritage has been a cornerstone of Cleveland ISD’s success, he added.
One of the most pressing challenges for rapidly growing districts is the shortage of qualified teachers. Cleveland ISD has addressed this issue with the Interim Assignment Teacher (IAT) Program, an innovative solution. The program allows individuals with associate and bachelor’s degrees, as well as those in the process of completing their teaching certifications, to teach at Cleveland ISD.
Central to this initiative is the use of eGlass technology — a lightboard that enables certified teachers to interact with multiple classrooms simultaneously, with IATs providing on-ground support.
The philosophy for the IAT Program is that it not only addresses the immediate need for educators but also creates a pipeline for future certified teachers. The savings generated from hiring IATs are reinvested into supporting these individuals’ journeys toward full certification. In its initial implementation in 2022, Cleveland ISD hired more than 300 applicants.
“We’ve been so successful that other school districts in Texas have now asked us for our model,” McCanless told Newsweek. “We are helping change the American education system.”