Throughout the month of November, Tennessee is celebrating the success and continued momentum of its Grow Your Own initiative, a program to encourage Tennessee students to pursue careers in teaching in their home state.
The Grow Your Own initiative is the first of its kind in the US, and since implementation, has grown to involve collaborations with over 30 other states. New programs will begin in January 2023, building upon the success of the current program and continuing the effort to encourage Tennessee students to seek a career in the classroom.
“We believe Tennessee’s Teacher Apprenticeship models will set the course for the nation’s educator pipeline, ultimately accelerating our innovation for not only teacher preparation – but the profession itself,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn.
In May, the University of Tennessee announced the launch of the Grow Your Own center, building new teacher apprenticeship models throughout the University of Tennessee’s four campuses. This $20 million investment is intended to support and expand the statewide teacher pipeline and combat teacher shortages being experienced throughout the state, as well as the country.
University of Tennessee leaders say they’ve already seen positive results from the initiative.
“The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is grateful to continue delivering innovative, high-quality programs for districts and candidates statewide,” said Dr. David Cihak, Associate Dean of Professional Licensure and Director of the CEHHS Graduate School of Education. “Through the Grow Your Own Center’s structure and TDOE supports, UTK is positioned to lead strong, varied teacher apprenticeship programs that meet the need of high-quality, impactful teacher preparation.”
The Tennessee Department of Education has additionally provided case studies to help other states and school districts learn more about the program’s implementation, best practices, and results.
“We are thrilled to continue supporting district-facing Grow Your Own programs through the teacher apprenticeship framework,” said Dr. Kim Wingate, Associate Professor and Co-Interim Director of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga School of Education. “Our models ensure new recruitment opportunities, responsive programs, and regional scale so that all Tennessee students have access to well-prepared, highly effective teachers.”
TDOE says the purpose of the initiative is not only to inspire students to become teachers, but to ensure that every Tennessee child has the education and educator they deserve. The department plans to continue to build upon the program, identifying areas of improvement and providing resources to more districts and universities.
“Continuing to learn and improve, we have a tremendous opportunity to think differently on how to ensure every child, in every classroom, has an excellent educator they most need – and deserve,” said Schwinn.
