BCSD ‘Grow Your Own’ signs partnership

In January the Baldwin County School District (BCSD) launched its 'Grow Your Own' Teacher Program and as of April 15, BCSD signed its fourth college partnership agreement for the program.

The program is developed in collaboration with post-secondary institutions in the middle Georgia region and aims to create a teacher pipeline through early exposure to the teaching profession. BCSD’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathway offers two pathways for students who are interested. Teacher Taquila Thomas is in charge of the ‘eaching as a Profession and Early Childhood Education pathways.

“This year the program really kicked off in January, but our superintendent, Dr. Noris Price, has been planning this program for multiple years,” said Thomas. “By getting involved, our students are having a good time, meeting people, going places, and getting credentials. It encourages those who never considered education as an option to give it a chance and those who have considered it to learn in depth what to expect and prepare for in their career.”

Students in the Baldwin County School District are required to take at least one CTAE pathway to graduate. As part of the “Grow Your Own” program, these two pathways are being promoted to students to offer them hands-on experiences and conversations regarding the role of becoming an educator.

In addition, by completing a pathway, students have the opportunity to gain accreditations. Students in the Teaching as a Profession pathway will take the Gace Paraprofessional Exam that gives GAPSC licensing for paraprofessionals. Students in Early Childhood Education will take this exam and the state-issued National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCT) test. Students in both pathways are also certified in CPR and fire safety.

“The majority of students complete both pathways and neither is restricted to simply being a teacher. We have students aiming to be daycare workers, academic coaches, and more,” said Thomas.

“I look forward to our students gaining their accreditations and for students who are hesitant about teaching to experience education and see the different routes they can pursue.”

The program enables students to graduate from high school with an associate’s degree or college credits from each of the “Grow Your Own” partner institutions. Currently these institutions include Georgia College & State University, Central Georgia Technical College, Middle Georgia State University, and Fort Valley State University. Each student will be able to seamlessly transfer to these institutions to complete their undergraduate degree in education.

“These partnerships allow us to connect our students to important figures and progress their education after graduation. It also inspires our students outside of the program by encouraging a post-secondary education and an interest in why these institutions are invested,” said Thomas. “It benefits both parties in and outside of the pathway.”

According to Thomas, while students are in the pathways, they learn about the importance of passion for one’s job and the various benefits of teaching. Thomas states that the pathways are aimed to show the honest expectations of an educational career, prepare the students through hands-on experience, and offer students a chance to understand teaching as a profession so they can make the choice to pursue it.

In addition to the pathways, BCSD’s Dr. Damita Jones pairs students with mentor teachers for workbased learning. This allows students the opportunity to have paid work-based learning in a Baldwin County school.

“Completing the program's requirements, including a background check and the GACE ethics test, makes candidates eligible for employment interviews with the school district,” states BCSD’s latest press release on the program.

BCSD’s latest Teaching as a Profession pathway is the first full cohort of the year. Among the graduation class, three student teachers will be graduating with many undergraduates preparing to do in the future, according to Thomas.