UT Tyler, Overton ISD Partner to Enhance Educational Opportunities for District
October 15, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan
Partnership Makes Higher Education More Affordable, Addresses Teacher Shortage
The University of Texas at Tyler has partnered with Overton Independent School District to provide discounted tuition
rates for district employees wishing to pursue advanced degrees at UT Tyler.
The partnership strengthens the district by making educational opportunities more accessible and affordable for Overton ISD teachers and administrators.
“This partnership with UT Tyler represents an incredible opportunity for our staff to continue growing professionally while remaining right here in our Mustang community,” said Larry Calhoun, Overton ISD Superintendent. “UT Tyler is helping us remove barriers that often prevent great teachers from becoming great leaders, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to supporting rural schools and educators.”
UT Tyler is focusing on teacher education and how the university can help address
the teacher shortage in East Texas and the state.
“I grew up in Overton, and I understand how vital these teachers are to the strength of our schools and the future of our children,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “That’s why we’re committed to building pathways for these wonderful educators to make an even greater impact. We’re doing this together — with opportunity, support and a belief in what’s possible when we invest in our own.”
Through its School of Education, UT Tyler will work with Overton ISD to offer an accelerated master’s degree in educational leadership with principal certification, as well as special opportunities for other graduate degrees. These programs are offered online to accommodate working educators. To learn more, visit uttyler.edu.
About Overton ISD
Nestled in the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas, Overton Independent School District is a close- knit, community-driven district serving about 530 students from Pre-K through 12th Grade. With small-school values and big-school opportunities, Overton ISD takes pride in fostering strong relationships, academic excellence and Mustang pride in every classroom, hallway and playing field.
About UT Tyler
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellentpatient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.