In teacher preparation, leadership matters. Programs guided by experienced educators bring a rare combination of practical insight, empathy, and high expectations — all essential to developing confident, capable teachers. At Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT), this belief is at the core of everything we do. Under the leadership of Dr. Heath Morrison, a nationally recognized education leader with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 public education, we are setting a new standard for alternative certification.
Meet Dr. Heath Morrison
Dr. Morrison’s career spans the full spectrum of education — from classroom teacher to principal to district superintendent — and includes being named National Superintendent of the Year. Throughout every role, his focus has remained the same: raising student achievement, supporting teachers, and driving systemic improvement. Today, that same vision shapes Teachers of Tomorrow, ensuring every part of our program reflects firsthand classroom and district experience.
An Educator-Led Model for Modern Classrooms
Under Dr. Morrison’s direction, ToT has strengthened its educator-led approach, ensuring every decision — from curriculum design to district partnerships — is grounded in the realities of today’s classrooms. Field supervisors, mentors, and program advisors are all seasoned educators who know the challenges candidates face and how to help them succeed.
They offer guidance that blends research-based best practices with the kind of practical strategies only experienced teachers can provide.
“As a former superintendent, I know the difference a great teacher makes — not just in test scores, but in a child’s life. That’s why we’ve built a program focused on preparing confident, committed educators who stay, grow, and lead,” said Dr. Morrison.
Raising the Bar for Compliance and Quality
One of Dr. Morrison’s first initiatives was creating the role of Chief Compliance Officer, appointing industry expert Dr. Alexandra Escobar to lead it. This office ensures ToT not only meets but exceeds the requirements of every state we serve, while maintaining full accreditation through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) in our AAQEP-approved states.
In 2025, an independent audit of key compliance metrics assigned Teachers of Tomorrow near-perfect scores — reaffirming both our accreditation status and our good standing with the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Expanding Candidate Support
Dr. Morrison expanded our candidate support team and extended live phone hours until 7 p.m. on weekdays — far beyond the limited schedules offered by many programs.
“Many of our candidates work during the day, and these extended hours are crucial,” explained Cindi Barry, Vice President of Customer Success. “We’ve had students join us from programs that stop answering phones at 5 p.m., and even 11 a.m. on Fridays. That level of accessibility just doesn’t meet the needs of today’s aspiring teachers, and we refuse to operate that way.”
In addition, ToT introduced weekly live office hours with instructors, giving candidates direct access to expert feedback and mentorship. During the internship year, every teacher is paired with a dedicated field supervisor who provides classroom observations, site visits, and coaching — all designed to accelerate professional growth.
Innovating Curriculum and Test Preparation
Dr. Morrison led a full curriculum redesign, aligning content with state standards, best practices in pedagogy, and the needs of adult learners. To remove barriers to certification, we offer three test prep pathways: in-house resources plus free access to premium providers The Learning Liaisons and Mometrix. This multi-format approach supports different learning styles and increases candidate pass rates.
Strengthening Partnerships with Districts
ToT now collaborates with more than 3,100 school districts nationwide. These partnerships align certification timelines with hiring needs, help fill high-need roles, and give administrators real-time insight into candidate progress through our district portal.
A Vision for the Future
By combining educator-led leadership, robust candidate support, and rigorous quality assurance, Dr. Morrison has positioned Teachers of Tomorrow as a national model for how alternative certification should be done.
“Every decision we make should be in service of student outcomes,” Morrison emphasizes. “And that starts with preparing great teachers.”
