This paper describes an initiative designed to address the various problems that paraprofessional school personnel face in becoming certified teachers. Personnel directors from the Amarillo Independent School District, Texas, met with college personnel to discuss problems in helping teaching aides become certified in shortage areas. They collaborated on the development of "Successful Transitions: The Texas Educational Aide Exemption Program." The program is intended to increase the number of aides transitioning to teaching, retain educational aides, provide meaningful information and support to increase their likelihood of success in higher education, and help them attain teacher certification. It helps participants develop relationships with university mentors, understand Texas teacher certification and the teacher preparation program, understand the university application and financial aid process, enroll in a teacher education program, understand selection and scheduling of university courses, and demonstrate effective study and test taking skills. Many of the participants are working in special education settings, and many are bilingual. Often, they want to return to special education and bilingual classrooms upon certification. Participating students are interviewed prior to and following completion of the project to evaluate its effectiveness. (Contains 15 bibliographic references.) (SM)