All Grow Your Own teacher candidates receive mentorship from a veteran teacher. Eagan High School teacher Paul Kovach (center) is mentoring Anas Yusuf (left) and Cecilia Lopez Rubi (right).
District 196 is among a select group of Minnesota districts awarded a state grant to support teacher recruitment and development. With the $1 million in grant funding, the district will help local adults switch careers to become teachers.
Grow Your Own programs aim to develop teachers from within local communities. With an adult pathway, the strategy is designed to overcome persistent teacher shortages.
There is a well-documented disparity between the number of teachers of color and students of color. In our district, there are fewer than 10% teachers of color and Indigenous teachers compared to 45% students of color and Indigenous students.
All students, especially students of color, benefit from interactions with teachers and staff of color. Staff are both mirrors that reflect student lives and windows that allow students to see into the lives of others. Students feel empowered to access professional pathways when they see professionals who look like them. Moreover, research is replete with studies on the positive impact of teachers of color on all students.
The District 196 Grow Your Own - Adult Pathway Program is a strategy “from the community for the community” to increase and diversify the teacher workforce. With the grant funding, we support adults in completing a teaching degree and obtaining an initial teaching license. This grant provides support over three years for district candidates:
- $10,000 per year for tuition
- $1,000 per year for textbooks
- Mentorship and professional development
Five colleges, including Metropolitan State University and the University of St. Thomas, are partnering with District 196 to provide the coursework toward licensure. To date, we have 23 candidates working with eight highly respected mentors/coaches who are longtime District 196 teachers. Some are studying elementary and secondary education, and some specialize in working with students who have special needs.
If you or someone you know is interested in the District 196 Grow Your Own - Adult Pathway Program, contact Yen Huynh-Vue, 651-423-7941 or yen.huynhvue@district196.org.