KDK-Harman Foundation

AUSTIN, Texas, Apr. 30, 2007 — The severe need for teachers in Austin is the catalyst for the development of a unique partnership between Capital IDEA, Austin Independent School District, Austin Community College, Austin Interfaith, Education Austin, St. Edward’s University and Huston-Tillotson University known as the "Teacher Pipeline Project." The KDK-Harman Foundation provided a breakthrough investment in support of the Teacher Pipeline Project, the largest grant the Foundation has awarded to-date. Graduates of the program who benefit from the generosity of the KDK-Harman Foundation will be known as KDK-Harman Scholars.

The partnership was created to address the teacher shortage and the desire of teachers’ aides within AISD to become teachers, many of whom cannot afford the high cost of a college education. The Teacher Pipeline Project is a one-of-a-kind program in the Austin area in that it exemplifies how a variety of organizations and educational institutions can engage in community-driven efforts to improve teacher quality, recruitment and retention in Austin’s schools. Teachers' aides currently working in AISD who participate will begin the program by attending Austin Community College and then complete their degrees at either St. Edward’s University or Huston-Tillotson University, depending on their area of specialization. Participants of the Teacher Pipeline Project will select a focus; bilingual education, special education, or math and science, areas with the greatest under-representation of qualified teachers. Capital IDEA provides the support to the participants in the area of case management. Tuition, books, fees, and childcare expenses are covered by the program. Once their education is complete, graduates reenter AISD as fully certified teachers.

Harman stated, "We are excited to support this new partnership in Austin not only as a pipeline to increase the number of much needed teachers, but as a vehicle for members of our community to move into higher paying, professional careers. The salary difference between teachers' aides and fully certified teachers is substantial. We hope that the KDK-Harman Scholars will instill the value of a college education in their classroom students and their own children."

About Capital IDEA

Capital IDEA lifts working people out of poverty by sponsoring educational services that lead to life-long financial independence. Capital IDEA serves the community by acting as a bridge, connecting committed, yet underemployed people to employers in need of highly skilled workers. Created through the efforts of Austin Interfaith and the Central Texas business community, Capital IDEA funds qualified participants' tuition, books and childcare and works with them to find employment with good salaries, benefits and opportunity for career growth. Capital IDEA collaborates with workforce partners to identify new career-driven curriculum needed to properly educate the next generation of workers. www.capitalidea.org

About KDK-Harman Foundation

KDK-Harman Foundation was founded by Janet E. Harman in December of 2004. The Foundation provides financial assistance to charitable organizations that serve economically disadvantaged Central Texas families through educational programs. The ultimate goal of such funding is to transform their lives from poverty to financial independence to enable a better life for them and future generations. In short, the mission of the KDK-Harman Foundation is to break the cycle of poverty through education. The Foundation supports programs within Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, and Llano counties.