Who Will Teach Tomorrow? Examining District Strategies for Implementing High School Grow Your Own Programs

• In Event: Engaging K–12 Students About Teachers, Teaching, and Education

Abstract

Teacher shortages increase each year. Policymakers are beginning to see value in Grow Your Own teacher programs in high schools. Using SCCT, school district applications to a statewide GYO grant were evaluated to examine how districts might implement programs. Overall, strategies reflecting Systems Aspects were most often described, while strategies reflecting Psychological and Social Aspects were largely missing. Even when given explicit guidance by the SEA, applications often did not reflect best practices aimed at addressing hard-to-staff teaching positions, transitioning graduates to post-secondary teacher education or implementing in a way that avoids a gendered and racial perspective on who might serve as a teacher. These results may foretell negative impacts on the efficacy of this approach to address teacher shortages.

Authors

• Doug D. Hamman, Texas Tech University

• Shirley M. Matteson, Texas Tech University

• The Nguyen, Texas Tech University