Tennessee Grow Your Own Center

The Lewis County Schools’ Teaching as a Profession (TAP) program serves as a model for fostering future educators. By combining a passionate instructor, strategic resource allocation, dedicated support from the district, and a focus on local talent development, the program positions itself to make an impact on the teacher shortage. The program’s success hinges on the continued dedication of mentors and the district’s commitment to supporting this vital initiative. Learn more about TAP! https://lnkd.in/eyZzvez3

Congratulations to Kate Hall on her promotion to director of the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center! Since joining the center in 2022, Kate has been pivotal in tackling teacher shortages in Tennessee, from launching the Teaching as a Profession pilot program to leading statewide Aspiring Apprentice conferences — her efforts are building a strong pipeline of qualified educators. Let’s celebrate Kate’s incredible contributions and the impact she’ll continue to make in shaping the future of education in Tennessee! 🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4iNQAnN

Exciting news from Lebanon Special School District (LSSD) and Cumberland University! On December 17, leaders from LSSD and Cumberland University hosted an interest meeting for paraprofessionals eager to take the next step in their careers by becoming teacher apprentices. 🎓✨ The meeting highlighted the incredible opportunities available through the Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship Program, which enables participants to earn their teaching license while gaining hands-on experience in the classroom. LSSD is gearing up to launch its first cohort of teacher apprentices in Fall 2025, and the enthusiasm from paraprofessionals was inspiring! 🙌 Curious about how your district can start recruiting future teacher apprentices? Check out our LEA Apprentice Recruitment Process webpage for resources, checklists, and step-by-step guidance: https://lnkd.in/esA9Mk9G. Together, we’re building the future of education—one apprentice at a time! 💡

The Grow Your Own Center is thrilled to share our insights on strengthening 💪 K-12 education at the upcoming Grand Challenges Summit!! The summit has two session where you can learn about our work to end teacher shortages in Tennessee. 1️⃣ GYO Session: Building Efficacy and Collective Leadership with K-12 Teachers ➡️ The presenters from our team are Kate Hall and Canidra McGuire. 2️⃣ The University of Tennessee, Knoxville will also be hosting a session: Addressing Tennessee's Teacher Shortage: How UT PLAYS and the Be One UT Values are Advancing K-12 Education ➡️ The presenters from UTK are Amelia Brown, David Cihak, Rhea Carmon and Julie Owens ➡️ Knox County Schools: Alex Moseman ➡️ Monroe County Schools: Paul Kirkland Join us at the summit to locate UT resources, people, stories and understand the connected web of some of Tennessee’s most important issues. Register & learn more here! https://lnkd.in/ejhVeXnT #raisethebar #growyourown #grandchallengessummit

TAP was highlighted as a successful strategy at Tennessee SCORE strategy event today by one of the panelists. We continue to see expansion of this effort!

Lawrence County Schools’ Teaching as a Profession (TAP) program exemplifies a successful approach to cultivating future educators. By providing a comprehensive blend of coursework, practical experience, and clear pathways to licensure, the program benefits students, schools, and the community at large. As the district continues to refine and expand the program, it positions itself to address the teacher shortage with a pipeline of talented and passionate local educators. Learn more about TAP! https://bit.ly/4dSZL32

🎓✨ Last night, Lincoln Memorial University honored their incredible Grow Your Own teacher apprentices at a special cording ceremony! Dr. Susan Wagner and Dr. John McCook presented these future Tennessee teachers with bronze cords — a symbol of their strength, resilience and dedication. These soon-to-be educators have worked tirelessly to earn their degrees and licensure while preparing to make a difference in classrooms across their communities. Seeing them celebrated alongside their families was truly inspiring! Congratulations to this amazing group of graduates. Your impact on Tennessee’s students starts now!

We are thrilled to announce that the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center has been awarded a $500,000 grant as part of the University of Tennessee System's Grand Challenges initiative! 👏 This competitive funding opportunity is designed to tackle some of Tennessee’s most pressing issues, and we’re honored to be a part of the effort to advance K–12 education in the state. Our grant-funded project, the Grow Your Own Collaboratory, aims to address Tennessee’s educator shortage by enhancing the professional development of mentor teachers — an essential step in retaining novice teachers. Over the next two years, this project will: ➡️ Design, implement and refine a co-created summer mentor teacher training retreat. ➡️Conduct research to evaluate the retreat’s impact on teacher satisfaction and retention. ➡️Build a sustainable mentor teacher professional development program to be scaled statewide through the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center. Learn more! ➡️ https://bit.ly/4giBQvp

It’s National Apprenticeship Week and we want to highlight some of our amazing apprentices across the state! Meet Larrionna Jones, a student at The University of Memphis and apprentice for Memphis-Shelby County Schools working at Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools. Larrionna says, “The Tennessee Grow Your Own Center, and its teacher apprenticeship have been invaluable on this journey toward my degree in education. This hands-on experience and mentorship built my skills in lesson planning, classroom management and differentiated instruction-particularly targeting the needs of special needs students. Also, it has laid out clear paths for meeting the Tennessee licensure requirements, building confidence and readiness in me to effectively support diverse learners.” “It is great to work with a mentor teacher who helps me, and my students grow every day since she is always there for us. Her presence in the classroom is consistent with support and encouragement; hence, my students and I have had the confidence to try new things” says Larrionna. “The whole experience balanced with being a full-time student pushes me to grow even more in resilience, in time management and in adaptability. This has deepened my commitment to teaching and helped me build confidence as I take on greater responsibility and learn to manage both my education and this role in the classroom,” Larrionna said.

It’s National Apprenticeship Week and we want to highlight some of our amazing apprentices across the state! Meet Elizabeth Ayers, a student at The University of Tennessee Southern and apprentice for Lawrence County School Systems working at Leoma Elementary as a kindergarten teacher. Elizabeth is reaching her goals with the help of the TN GYO Center and its teacher apprenticeship program! “I get real, hands-on experience while I am earning my degree. It has been so helpful to see the principles and techniques taught by UT Southern in use with students. I have learned so much from my professors and peers at UT Southern that will help me positively influence my students' education,” says Elizabeth. Elizabeth credits her mentors Mrs. Burleson and Mrs. Jewell with helping develop her classroom procedures and lesson pacing, as well as encouraging her every step of the way. Elizabeth says, “I have been challenged in every aspect. I have accomplished goals and ideas that I never thought possible because my advisor and professors believed in me.”